Ants 101
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Whether they’re marching one by one or two by two, ants can invade kitchens and other parts of your home in seconds. Despite their small size and stature, ants are very smart, capable of dividing and conquering to secure sweets and other left-out foods. There are more than 10,000 known species of ants – but for now, we’re going to focus on basic ant facts to give you an edge over these pesky pests. Welcome to Ant 101.

Ant Facts

Ants Have Super Strength:
An average ant can lift more than 20 times its body weight. While ants don’t weigh all that much to begin with, this strength helps them to lift things like potato chips and other tasty treats.
Ants Are Employed:
Every ant in a colony has a job. Some are workers that build the colony, others hunt for food, and some even help with waste disposal. There’s never a dull moment in the life of an ant!
Ants Are Intelligent:
When divided, an individual ant has only around 235,000-250,000 brain cells. With enough ants, a colony could have the same amount of brain cells as an average human!
Strength in Numbers:
If you added up the mass of every person in the world and every ant in the world, the masses would be equal. That’s a lot of ants!

Common Ant Varieties in the United States



Ant Patterns 1

Odorous House Ant:

The most common species of ant in the United States, these little guys are a big pest in the kitchen. They scavenge for food in kitchens, waste baskets, and any corner of the home they can reach. Their favorite foods are sweets!



Ant Patterns 1

Fire Ant:

Fire ants are distinguished by their fiery-red color. They're more common in the southern half of the United States. Be careful - their bites can sting and leave some pretty nasty blisters!



Ant Patterns

Garden Ant:

As their name suggests, garden ants are most commonly found in gardens, but they've also been known to build nests on openings in pavements. They'll eat just about anything from sweets to proteins, so make sure to cover your foods!



Ant Patterns 1

Pharaoh Ant:

These ants love protein; meat, fats, and other dead insects are their favorites.
They appear year-round and seek out humid climates. Interestingly enough, they're most commonly found in hospitals.



Ant Patterns:



Ant Patterns 1

You’re most likely to encounter ants during the spring and summer months. However, as weather cools down during the fall, you may experience an uptick in ants. This is due to the “fall crawl” – a phenomenon that occurs when insects seek shelter from cooler weather.



Ant Patterns

Ants are most common during twilight hours. They typically set out to find food a little bit after dinnertime, but quite a few species are known to work in the mornings, as well. If you see an ant in your home, there’s a very strong chance you’ll see more.