What types of ants do you have?

You got ants… and you’re not sure which type of ants you have?

How can you tell the difference between pavement ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, moisture ants, and flying winged ants, or some other more peculiar types of ants? Let’s take a closer look at the various ant species to help you identify and then try to get rid of them!

Learn about the different ant species here in Metro Vancouver and how you can identify them.

What you need to know about all the ants we have here in Metro Vancouver

Spring and summer is ant season! You may have spotted some adventurous insects creeping around your garden, patio, or even in your home. It’s important to figure out what type of ants you have, so you know how to deal with them.

Carpenter Ants

These ants tend to be quite large; 6mm to 12mm long. They build nests by chewing inside damp or dry wood with their mandibles, carving out tunnels to build nesting sites. This often results in piles of “sawdust” or “frass”. Two main species here on the westcoast; C. Modoc (mostly black) & C. Vicinus (reddish thorax). Treatment options vary greatly, depending on the location and level of infestation. An inspection is the first step to determining the best treatment course and cost.

Learn more about Carpenter Ants

Pavement Ants

These ants are dark brown to black in colour, and quite small; approximately 3mm long. Also known as “tiny black ants”, or ‘sugar ants’. They can be found inside and/or outside the home, and can be quite a nuisance. You’ll probably notice them mostly coming out from under your cement pavers – that’s where the nests will be located. Pavement Ant treatment methods typically vary depending on the location and extent of ant colony size.

Learn more about Pavement Ants

Pharaoh Ants

Usually light yellow/red in colour, these ants often appear to be “invisible” when standing over them, and are extremely small; 2mm long. Since these ants are very delicate, intelligent, and sensitive, attempting home remedies is strongly discouraged. When threatened, they will go into reproductive overdrive and produce more queens, rapidly expanding the infestation. Treatments consist of 3 to 6 applications of bait, approximately 3 weeks apart, and prices are dependent on the size and type of the building, and severity of the infestation.

Learn more about Pharaoh Ants

Moisture Ants

They are usually yellow to reddish brown in colour, 2 to 4.5 mm long. Unique features include a protruding part on its back, which is visible from the side, a wide upper lip, and hairs around the end of the abdomen area. Moisture ants feed on honeydew as well as dead and live insects, and are known for building large and obtrusive nests.

Moisture ants don’t normally appear until August, and require a substantial amount of moisture to reside inside of walls. Had a leak? They might nest in walls near a plumbing leak. Removing and replacing damp, or rotten wood will usually help to eradicate them.

Learn more about Moisture Ants

Other Ants

From time to time we see other types of ants. Our technicians can provide you with information and treatment options for all ant species.

What about about those flying ants?

You might have noticed flying ants in Vancouver over the years. Yes, ants can fly. At least some of them can, under certain circumstances and at certain times of the year. Flying ants are a type of ant (not a species), both male and female reproductives, that serves a single function to extend the life of their colony. These swarmers take flight to the skies to mate and afterwards the queens goes off to start her own colony. Because it typically happens on a single day, the phenomenon is called ‘flying ant day’.

Note: Winged ants do not determine the species of ant you may have. All ants species have winged reproductives within their colonies. These winged reproductives typically swarm for a short period of time, once or twice a year. The size and shape of reproductives are much larger than that of the non-winged.

See related: Read our epic post about preparing for ants season. Epic? Well it’s pretty solid, with some great tips. 

Fire ants

Fire ants are reddish brown in colour and roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length. Yes, they do sting! Their sting is quite painful, similar to a wasp sting. Fire ants get their name from their aggressive behavior and bites: if you disturb a nest and get too close without realizing it, multiple bites could feel as though your skin is on fire!

These ants usually build their nests in-ground or under rocks and stones, and if disturbed will become very defensive. The fire ants mostly invading the west coast however are European Fire Ants, which reside in nests completely below ground showing no sign of evidence on the surface. This makes treatment very challenging.  Surface level treatments often don’t work. A targeted, professional treatment is your best bet, which typically includes three full treatments over a two week period.

Learn more about fire ant control

Field ants

Field ants have a few different aliases; can be also known as wood ants, mound ants, thatching ants, or field ants. Not super common here in BC, the field ant is found mostly in grassy areas like a lawn, yard, field etc.

Field ants are black, brownish, and red in colour, and considered a med-to-large size ant (4-9mm). They feed on honeydew as well as dead and alive insects.

These insects are very similar to carpenter ants in appearance and size, but they prefer nesting outdoors in soil usually identified by a mound. They tend to build nests near woodpiles, under rocks, and prefer moist, decaying wood.

Odorous House Ant

When crushed these ants have a rotten coconut-like odor. (hence their cool name)

Nests are found outdoors and indoors. Outside, they can nest in the soil or piles of wood and inside they prefer moist places such as wall voids around the plumbing, hot tanks etc. Colony has approx 10.000 workers and multiple queens (laying one egg per day). Satellite nests are commonly connected to the main nest via foraging trails.

Marching trails can be noted early in March when the temperature rises above 10 degrees and they stay active till November. Swarming season for Odorous Ants is June/July.

Sugar Ants

In BC people often throw around the term “sugar ant” when they are referring to pavement ants, or odorous hose ants. Real sugar ants only reside in Australia with an official species name Camponotus consobrinus, the banded sugar ant. The only real similarity is that both pavement and sugar ants love sugary, sweet substances.

Other cools ants

There are a few more ants with pretty cool names, but not residents of BC. Like Ghost ants, Argentine ants, acrobat ants. So, you don’t need to worry about those guys.

Carpenter Ants appearing early spring outside this home

pavement ants love all things sweet incl. honeydew