Types of Ants: 8 Common Species
Elbowed antennae and a pinched waist with one or two nodes. This guide covers the 8 ants people find most often.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 8 bugs
Red Imported Fire Ant
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaA small, aggressive reddish-brown ant that builds dome-shaped mounds of loose soil in sunny lawns and fields across the southern US. When disturbed, workers swarm and sting repeatedly.
Tell-tale sign: Mixed sizes of copper-red workers in one colony. Risk: Fire ant stings burn, form white pustules, and can cause severe allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Argentine Ant
Argentine AntLinepithema humileA small, light-to-dark brown ant that forms huge, cooperating supercolonies. Wide, busy trails often stream into kitchens during hot or rainy weather.
Tell-tale sign: Uniform light-brown body with one flat node. Risk: Argentine ants don't sting and rarely bite; they protect aphids and scale insects on garden plants.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusA large black ant that nests in moist or damaged wood, including window frames, decks and wall voids. It doesn't eat wood but excavates smooth galleries and pushes out sawdust-like debris.
Tell-tale sign: Large ant with an evenly rounded, single-arch thorax. Risk: Carpenter ants can deliver a painful bite and weaken wood over time, but they do not carry disease.
Little Black Ant
Little Black AntMonomorium minimumA tiny, jet-black, shiny ant that nests in lawns, under rocks and in wall voids. Workers form narrow trails to sweets, grease and meats.
Tell-tale sign: Very small, glossy jet-black body. Risk: Little black ants have a sting too weak to feel; they are a nuisance only.
Longhorn Crazy Ant
Longhorn Crazy AntParatrechina longicornisA 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.
Tell-tale sign: Long legs and antennae relative to its body. Risk: Crazy ants rarely bite and don't sting; their sheer numbers make them a nuisance.
Odorous House Ant
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileA 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.
Tell-tale sign: Small, uniformly dark ant with an uneven thorax. Risk: Odorous house ants are a nuisance only; they rarely bite and don't sting.
Pavement Ant
Pavement AntTetramorium immigransA dark brown ant that nests under sidewalks, driveways and slabs, pushing up small piles of sand. Colonies fight noisy battles on pavement in spring.
Tell-tale sign: Parallel grooves on the head and thorax. Risk: Pavement ants have a weak sting that rarely bothers people; they are mainly a nuisance.
Pharaoh Ant
Pharaoh AntMonomorium pharaonisA 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.
Tell-tale sign: Very small, light yellow to amber body with a darker abdomen. Risk: They don't bite, but in hospitals and kitchens they can carry bacteria onto clean surfaces.
Which ones should you worry about?
1 of the 8 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. The ones to take seriously are red imported fire ant. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| Red Imported Fire Ant | Argentine Ant | Carpenter Ant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Ants | Ants | Ants |
| Scientific name | Solenopsis invicta | Linepithema humile | Camponotus pennsylvanicus |
| Size | 2–6 mm | 2–3 mm | 6–13 mm |
| Colors | Red and Brown | Brown | Black and Red |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | No | No | No |
| Bites or stings | Bites, Stings | No | Bites |
| Risk | Health risk | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Mixed sizes of copper-red workers in one colony | Uniform light-brown body with one flat node | Large ant with an evenly rounded, single-arch thorax |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the red imported fire ant and Argentine ant are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
Red Imported Fire Ant can be medically significant.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.