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Help me identify these Ants! #750634

Asked May 18, 2021, 12:38 PM EDT

Hi there! I have recently been invaded by a colony of ants. Notably I have not found any ants in my kitchen after searching extensively. The are all pretty much 1/8 in size. Notably I have found a few in my bathroom and the majority of the ants are in a guest bedroom with no food. Unfortunately, I sprayed before I thought about sending in these pictures, so I was only able to get dead ones for the photos. I'm concerned about carpenter ants, crazy ants, or pharaoh ants. Thank you for your help!

Prince George's County Maryland

Expert Response

I actually found living ones! Hopefully these pictures show them not all crumpled. 

The Question Asker Replied May 18, 2021, 1:05 PM EDT

Hello William, 

Unfortunately ants are hard to ID via pictures, but based on the abdomen shape these look like Acrobat ants or Odorous house ants.  Based on the size I don't think they are carpenter ants, which are ~1/4 in size. 

Ants in general are common house hold pest in the spring. I would recommend using some bait traps in your bathroom and guest bedroom. After you treat if the ants are still active in a few weeks you many need to call a pest control company to come find the nest and treat.  

More information about ants can be found here: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/ants-indoor-insects 
https://extension.psu.edu/odorous-house-ant


- Emily 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 19, 2021, 2:10 PM EDT

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