Types of Ants

Tennessee residents know all too well how disruptive and annoying ants can be. As one of the most common nuisance pests in Tennessee, ants regularly infiltrate buildings in search of food to bring back to their colonies. With thousands of species of ants around the world, they are a diverse pest with different traits and varying sizes. 

U.S. Pest Protection is well-equipped to provide residential pest control and business pest control, including Tennessee ant control. Our professional technicians are experts at getting rid of your pest problem and ensuring it doesn’t happen again. Make sure you never have to deal with ants again by contacting U.S. Pest Protection. 

Tennessee Ant Types

There are thousands of ant species around the world, and there is no shortage of ant species diversity here in Tennessee. Determining what ant species you are encountering is important, as ants vary wildly in size and behavior, with some species functioning in a far more invasive way than others. Discover some of the wide variety of Tennessee ants and learn to identify them.

Not up to figuring out what type of ants are marching around your property? Don’t worry. With U.S. Pest Protection, you can schedule a free inspection with our team and achieve both peace of mind and a pest-free property.

Acrobat Ants

Acrobat ants are small and not particularly invasive compared to other ant species. They can be identified by their distinct ability to raise their thorax and abdomen above their head when threatened—hence their name.

Big-Headed Ants

An invasive species, big-headed ants are particularly common in tropical and subtropical climates. As you might expect, big-headed ants have big heads. They are equally well-suited to eating other insects, and you could have a big-headed ant problem if you also have other insects. 

Carpenter Ants

As their name implies, carpenter ants make their nests inside softened wood and can cause similar damage to termites. Jet black in color, carpenter ants are also the largest ants in Tennessee, and each individual ant can grow up to 2.5 centimeters in length.

Crazy Ants

Crazy ants differ from other ants in their erratic method of food foraging, and it’s why they have their name. They are excellent at living indoors and have a habit of infiltrating electronics. 

Field Ants

Sometimes confused with carpenter ants because of their large size, field ants come in a range of colors. They build mounds in the ground for their colonies. If you have field ants in their home, you can count on a nest being nearby.

Fire Ants

Originally and accidentally imported to the United States from South America, fire ants don’t look particularly unique compared to other common Tennessee ants. However, their sting is painful—like fire—and fire ants will be aggressive 

Odorous House Ants

These small, dark-colored ants are apt to seek out sweets, such as fruit, in your home. If you kill them, though, their smell is anything but’ they can release a distinctive smell, somewhat like rotten coconuts. 

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are named for their choice of habitat—you’ll often find them nesting in between pieces or cracks of pavement. They are small and darkly colored with lighter legs and antennae. They eat a wide range of foods.

Pharaoh Ants

Unlike many other common Tennessee ants, pharaoh ants are a distinctive pale yellow color. They are particularly aggressive inside invaders and can be difficult to get rid of thanks to their response to pesticides and other toxic chemicals.

Thief Ants

Also sometimes referred to as grease ants or sugar ants, thief ants are particularly small and tan-colored with darker brown heads. You’ll find thief ant colonies near other ant colonies, as thief ants are known to steal food from other ants.

Get Rid of Ants in Tennessee with U.S. Pest Protection

Most species of Tennessee ants are simple nuisance pests. While they don’t usually pose a threat to your property or as health risks, they are extremely annoying and can ruin foodstuffs that they swarm and consume. No matter what kind of ant you may have, the pest experts at U.S. Pest Protection can help. Schedule your free ant inspection and stop the nuisances today!