3 Bugs That Look Like Little Black Ants

1. Odorous House Ant

A small, dark brown to black ant that trails along counters and sinks looking for sweets. Crushed workers give off a smell often compared to rotten coconut.

How it differs:

• Color: Little Black Ants are black; odorous house ants are black and brown.
• Where found: look for little black ants in the kitchen and in lawns and grass; odorous house ants turn up in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
• Signature feature: Little Black Ants: very small, glossy jet-black body. Odorous House Ants: small, uniformly dark ant with an uneven thorax.

2. Pharaoh Ant

A tiny, pale yellow ant that nests in warm, hidden spots inside walls, cabinets and appliances. Colonies split into new nests when disturbed, which makes them hard to control.

How it differs:

• Color: Little Black Ants are black; Pharaoh ants are yellow and tan.
• Where found: look for little black ants in the kitchen and in lawns and grass; Pharaoh ants turn up in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
• Signature feature: Little Black Ants: very small, glossy jet-black body. Pharaoh Ants: very small, light yellow to amber body with a darker abdomen.

3. Longhorn Crazy Ant

A dark, slender ant with extremely long legs and antennae that runs in fast, jerky, seemingly random paths. It nests in soil, trash and wall voids, mostly in warm southern states.

How it differs:

• Color: Little Black Ants are black; longhorn crazy ants are black and gray.
• Signature feature: Little Black Ants: very small, glossy jet-black body. Longhorn Crazy Ants: long legs and antennae relative to its body.

Side-by-side comparison

Quick identification checklist

1. Count the legs. Little Black Ants have 6 legs.
2. Check for wings. Little Black Ants are usually seen without wings.
3. Measure it. Little Black Ants are 1.5–2 mm (up to about 0.08 in).
4. Look for the signature feature: very small, glossy jet-black body.
5. Note where you found it. Little Black Ants are usually in the kitchen and in lawns and grass.

When you'll see little black ants

Little Black Ants are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.

Typical places to check: kitchen and lawn or grass.

About ants

The little black ant is one of the ants. Ants live in colonies ruled by one or more egg-laying queens. The workers you see are sterile females foraging for the rest of the colony, so killing visible ants rarely solves anything. Winged ants, called swarmers, appear when a mature colony sends out new kings and queens.

Bait works because workers carry it back and share it with the queen and larvae. Repellent sprays can scatter the colony and make the problem harder to fix.

Are little black ants or their lookalikes dangerous?

• Little Black Ant: Little black ants have a sting too weak to feel; they are a nuisance only.
• Odorous House Ant: Odorous house ants are a nuisance only; they rarely bite and don't sting.
• Pharaoh Ant: They don't bite, but in hospitals and kitchens they can carry bacteria onto clean surfaces.
• Longhorn Crazy Ant: Crazy ants rarely bite and don't sting; their sheer numbers make them a nuisance.

Frequently asked questions