The easiest way to identify ants is to use a dead specimen and a small magnifying lens.There are only a few common household pests, but a species found outdoors may need a more detailed guide specific to your area.
Step 1: To observe behavior, take a minute.
It is not always necessary for ant behavior to be identified.Write down where you found the ants and what they were consuming.Do you know if the ants are the same size and shape or if some are larger than others?You can observe how they carry food, how fast they run, their trail pattern, and even their postures when disturbed.Most of these details will not be covered in this guide, but they may help later if you narrow down the identification to a couple species.
Step 2: Use alcohol or tweezers to collect ants.
Tweezers or more precise, but the end of a cloth or brush that has rubbing alcohol on it will work.
Step 3: You can kill the ant with alcohol or freezing.
You can put the ant in a plastic bag and freeze it for 24 hours.Drop the ant in a jar of alcohol and look at it for a few minutes.
Step 4: Look for a hand lens or microscope.
Close examination of tiny body parts is required to identify a specific ant species.You can use a microscope on low magnification if you have a 10x or 15x lens.For adjusting the ant's position, a pair of tweezers will be useful.
Step 5: An ant is what the insect is.
It may sound silly, but some insects are mistaken for ants.The specimen has "elbowed" antenna, a distinct joint, and narrow waists.There is no obvious waist for the termitess.Some ants have stinging powers, while others don't.Both insects have narrow waists, but ants have small "nodes" between the two body segments, which connect directly on a wasp.Winged ants have four wings, with the front pair larger than the rear pair.If all four wings are the same size, you most likely have a pest.
Step 6: Pick the three body segments.
A head, central and rear are what ants are made of.The final part of the body is called a.Make a mental note of the gaster's color.
Step 7: There is a search for the nodes.
There are two smaller body parts between the thorax and the gaster.The thorax and gaster can only be seen once you pull them apart.The most useful part of the ant for identification is these.Take a look at the shape of the nodes and how many are there.
Step 8: Take a close look at the thorax for spines.
Some species of ant have a large segment behind the head, but not all.These are small and difficult to distinguish from hairs, so look carefully, and gently blow on them.Most species have one to four near the rear of the thorax, but many do not.If there are spines, count them.
Step 9: Measure the ant.
Write down the size of the ant.If possible, use a ruler with /32 inch markings.
Step 10: If you can, find a list of ants.
Only a few of the thousands of species of ants are likely to be found in a given region.If you know which ants are possibilities in your province, you can save time.Not all of the tropical countries and islands have interactive guides that are usable.
Step 11: If necessary, use larger guides.
Guide to ant species may require sifting through hundreds of species.If you can't find a local list or if none of the ant species described below match your specimen's description, there are a couple good options.Pick your region from the drop-down menu if you want it in small text near the top of the page."Nearctic" is for Canada, the U.S. and Baja California.For the rest of Mexico and Latin America, choose "Neotropical".You can enter your specimen's information into Discover Life.
Step 12: Refer to the ant specimen in the section below.
Additional information is provided whenever it may be useful.Head color, antenna shape, and other information may be useful.You can start by going to the section for one- and two-node ants.The most widespread ant species are listed first in each section.Pest ant species with more restricted territories are given briefer descriptions.
Step 13: You can identify Argentine ants.
Argentine ants are long and dull brown and are found all over the world.They move quickly in tight trails, prefer sugar, and have a musty odor when crushed.Colonies are found indoors and outdoors.Multiple colonies and multiple queens per colony make eradication difficult.
Step 14: Distinguish the ants.
These ants are either black, dark brown, or dark red.They vary in size from 12” to 6” and have no thorax spines.They are often found near wood, along with a strong odor and piles of sawdust.There are trails across lawns where vegetation has been removed.
Step 15: Determine Crazy ants.
Crazy ants are named after their rapid changes of direction, and perhaps for their odd looking, extra-long antenna and legs.Their slender, dark grey, black, or brown bodies are /16 to /8" long and have no spines.In the tropics, some crazy ant species can be up to 5mm long and have a darker gaster.
Step 16: Do you know other species?
Ghost ants are very small (1/16" or 2mm), with a black/brown head and pale abdomen, and are more limited in global distribution than the species above.There is no spine.Usually outdoors in the tropics.The house ants are long, one flat, and no spines.There was a strong odor when it was crushed.This is mostly found in trails looking for sugar.Rover ants are small and black with a straight antenna.The larger, winged females are found near light or floating in standing water.White-footed ants are black with pale feet.There was no thorax spine.
Step 17: You can identify Acrobat ants.
These are any mix of brown, red, or black that is larger than 3.5mm.When disturbed, these ants emit an odor and raise a sting at the tip of the abdomen.The nodes are not raised.The nest can be found by following the trails and looking for dead ants.
Step 18: Figure out what the ants are made of.
These are easily identified by the massive head on the largest workers, along with smaller workers with more normal proportions.These are even easier to identify because of the large, rounded nodes and small thorax spines.These ants like to find food.
Step 19: There are red Imported Fire ants.
Imported fire ants are very aggressive.A gaster that's a much darker brown than the rest of the body can be found in the range of 1/66" to 1/4".These are often found in electrical boxes and air conditioners.They are visible in large numbers after rain.Californians may be able to get help dealing with this species.
Step 20: Do you know other species?
The Little black ants are a common pest in some areas, but not as widespread as the species above.This ant is difficult to identify due to its lack of a spine and a small stinger.They are found in decaying wood and masonry when they are inside.Small dirt "craters" are used by pavement ants to nest in cracks.There are grooves visible under magnification.Pharaoh ants.The yellow or orange ants will happily nest almost anywhere, with a slightly thicker three-segmented "club" at the end of the antenna.The problem can be worsened by non- professional attempts.The ants were thief ants.The ants have a two-segmented antenna club tip.They travel through electrical outlets or into small holes in packaged food if they stick to a trail once established.