Ants

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Photos show examples, not every species or life stage. If you are unsure what you found, contact Powell Pest and Lawn for help identifying it.

Ants are one of the most common household pests reported in the Ozarks. Understanding the differences between carpenter ants, sugar ants (odorous house ants), and pavement ants helps you address infestations more effectively with treatments and prevention steps that fit your situation.

Carpenter ants can weaken wood, sugar ants can spoil food with scent trails, and pavement ants often move indoors through cracks in concrete. Correct identification guides proper treatment approaches and helps prevent ongoing issues inside and around your home.

• Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) – Large (¼–½ in.) black or red-and-black ants that hollow wood for nests, leaving sawdust-like frass.

• Sugar ants / Odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) – Tiny (¹⁄₁₆–⅛ in.) dark ants that release a rotten-coconut smell when crushed and form multi-queen colonies that can “bud” if disturbed.

• Pavement ants (Tetramorium immigrans) – Small brown ants nesting under sidewalks and slabs; they commonly invade kitchens for greasy or sweet foods and may sting if disturbed.

• Egg – Laid by the queen; extremely small and cream-colored.

• Larva – Legless, grub-like; fed by worker ants.

• Pupa – Resting stage (often in a silk cocoon) where transformation occurs.

• Adult – Workers, soldiers, queens, and winged swarmers emerge to expand colonies.

• Lines of tiny workers along baseboards or kitchen counters.

• Sawdust-like debris spilling from holes in trim or framing (carpenter ants).

• Rustling sounds inside walls after dark.

• Winged swarmers gathering near windows in spring.

• Coconut-like odor when certain ants are crushed (often associated with sugar ants/odorous house ants).

• Seal cracks around windows, doors, and utility lines.

• Store food in airtight containers and clean spills promptly.

• Trim vegetation so branches don’t touch exterior walls or roofs.

• Repair leaks and improve crawl-space ventilation to reduce moisture.

• Accurate Identification: Determines the best bait or non-repellent treatment for each species.

• Colony-Focused Baits: Workers share the bait within the colony, including queens, to help reduce ant populations at the source.

• Structural Inspections: Locate potential carpenter ant galleries and contributing moisture issues.

• Follow-Up Visits: Help confirm that activity is declining and that exclusion and treatment measures remain in place.

Call 417-655-0213 or request service on our Ant Control page.

Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they hollow it out to create nesting galleries. Over time, untreated activity can weaken structural timbers and should be evaluated by a professional.

Sugar ants don’t typically bite, but their foraging can contaminate food and surfaces. Because they often form multi-queen colonies and satellite nests, they can be difficult to fully address without a targeted treatment plan.

Ants have elbowed antennae, narrow waists, and forewings longer than hindwings. Termites have straight antennae, thicker waists, and wings that are equal in length.

Many ant species leave scent trails. Unless colonies and satellite nests are addressed with the right baits or treatments, new workers will continue to follow existing pheromone trails back inside.

In many cases, you’ll notice fewer ants within 3–7 days, though it can take longer for larger colonies as the bait is shared throughout the nest.

We recommend keeping pets away from treated areas during the application and until all surfaces are fully dry. Your technician can provide specific guidance based on the type of treatment used.

Call: 417-655-0213

Email: cooper@powellpestandlawn.com

Visit: 213 N College Ave, Republic, MO 65738

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