CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ants get their name because they build their nests in wood. This pest can cause significant damage to your house. There are many types of carpenter ants throughout the U.S. measuring in size from one-quarter inch (about the width of a pencil) for a worker carpenter ant to three-quarters of an inch (about the size of a quarter) for a queen carpenter ant.
Each colony is established by a single, fertilized queen. She starts her nest in a cavity in wood, where she raises her first brood of workers. She feeds them saliva and does not leave the nest or feed herself during this time.
When they are ready, those workers then get the job of gathering food to feed the next generation. Once mature, this first generation of worker ants work to increase the food supply for the colony. The colony population grows very rapidly. A colony can eventually produce 2,000 or more workers.
Size: 5/8"
Shape: Oval
Color: Range in color from red to black
Legs: 6
Wings: Varies
Antenna: Yes
Common Name: Carpenter ant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidea
Species: Camponotus
PAVEMENT ANTS
Although these ants can live inside, they get their name because they make their nests in or under cracks in pavement. They are typically found in the eastern half of the United States, California and Washington. Pavement ant colonies average 3,000 to 4,000 members and have several queens.
Size: 1/8"
Shape: Segmented, oval
Color: Dark brown to black
Legs: 6
Wings: Varies
Antenna: Yes
Common Name: Pavement ant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Species: Tetramorium caespitum
ODOROUS ANTS
This ant gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smells it gives off when crushed and the fact that they commonly nest in or around houses. Native to the United States, these ants are very social, living in colonies of up to 100,000 members.
Size: 1/16" to 1/8"
Shape: Segmented, oval
Color: Brown or black
Legs: 6
Wings: Varies
Antenna: Yes
Common Name: Odorous house ant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Species: Tapinoma sessile
BALD-FACED HORNETS
Bald-faced hornets get their name from the large white patches on their faces. They can be found across the United States. Its main predators are bears and raccoons.
Size: 3/4"
Shape: Wasp
Color: Black and white
Legs: 6
Wings: Yes
Antenna: Yes
Common Name: Bald-faced hornet
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Species: Dolichovespula maculata
YELLOW JACKETS
Yellow jackets are social insects that live in nests or colonies with up to 4,000 workers. These flying insects typically have a yellow and black head/face and patterned abdomen. Many say that the pattern resembles stripes.
Size: 3/8" to 5/8
Shape: Wasp
Color: Black with yellow stripes
Legs: 6
Wings: Yes
Antenna: Yes
Common Name: Yellow jacket
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Species: Vespula vulgaris