Types of ants in Kentucky homes, and how to tell them apart
Published Updated
By John Stopka, Co-Founder & CEO · Reviewed by John Stopka
Several kinds of ants come into Kentucky homes, and they are easiest to tell apart by size, color and where they turn up. Tiny brown ants trailing on the kitchen counter are usually odorous house ants; small dark ants with piles of sand at slab cracks are pavement ants; very small yellowish ants in a warm bathroom or kitchen may be Pharaoh ants; and the big black ones are carpenter ants. Knowing which you have tells you where the nest is.
Which ants come into Kentucky homes?
University of Kentucky entomologists list the ants that most often invade homes in the state as pavement ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, acrobat ants and Pharaoh ants [1]. Little black ants and field ants turn up too, mostly from nests in the yard.
| Ant | Size and color | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Odorous house ant | tiny, about 1/16 to 1/8 inch, brown to black | trails on kitchen counters, near warm damp spots |
| Pavement ant | small, dark brown to black, fine grooves on head and back | slab cracks, driveways, basements, with little piles of sand |
| Acrobat ant | small, shiny reddish-brown to black, heart-shaped rear end | water-damaged wood around windows, gutters and skylights |
| Pharaoh ant | very small, yellowish to light brown | warm, humid spots inside: bathrooms, kitchens, behind walls |
| Little black ant | very small, shiny jet black | trails indoors from nests in lawns and under stones |
| Field ants | medium to large, brown, black or reddish | yard mounds; they wander in but rarely nest inside |
| Carpenter ant | large, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, black or red and black | damp wood; sawdust-like shavings |
The first three descriptions are the ones on our ants page.
Odorous house ants
The tiny brown ant in the kitchen. The easiest way to be sure is to crush one: an odorous house ant smells like rotten coconut. They trail along counters, sinks and baseboards looking for sweets and water, and they nest outside under stones, mulch, boards and woodpiles, or in wall voids near moisture. Colonies can have many queens, so they recover quickly when only the ants in sight are dealt with.
Pavement ants
Small, dark ants with fine parallel grooves on the head and back, visible under a magnifier. The giveaway is the little piles of sand they push up at cracks in driveways, sidewalks, patios and basement slabs. They nest under the concrete and come in through the same cracks, often in spring.
Acrobat ants
Named for the way they raise their heart-shaped rear end over their body when disturbed. Acrobat ants often nest in wood that has already been softened by water — around leaky windows, gutters and skylights, in wall voids and insulation — so finding them indoors is worth treating as a moisture clue as well as an ant problem.
Pharaoh ants
Very small, yellowish to light brown, and hard to see until there are many of them. Pharaoh ants like warmth and humidity and nest deep in wall voids, behind baseboards and near pipes. They are the one household ant where spraying the ants you can see can make things worse: a disturbed colony can split into several new ones, which is why baiting, not spraying, is the usual approach.
Carpenter ants
The big ones, about a quarter to half an inch, black or red and black. Carpenter ants nest in damp or softened wood and push out sawdust-like shavings; they are covered in their own carpenter ants article.
Do ants bite?
Some do, but the household ants that trail into kitchens are not a biting problem. Odorous house ants and pavement ants rarely bite people at all. Larger ants — field ants and carpenter ants — can give a pinch if they are handled, and a few kinds sting. If a bite or sting concerns you, that is a question for a healthcare provider.
How long do ants live?
Workers live weeks to a few months; queens can live for years. That is the reason ants come back when only the trail is wiped away: the queens and the nest are still there, producing new workers. What ends an ant problem is reaching the colony, which is why ant bait — carried back to the nest by workers — does more than a spray on the trail.
Why are there ants in the house?
Food, water and shelter. Crumbs, spills, pet food and sticky counters draw them in, and so do leaks and damp spots. Heavy rain and hot, dry spells both push ants indoors. The practical steps are in our kitchen ants article.
How does Liberty handle ants?
Household ants are covered; carpenter ants are handled separately. Household ants are covered by every plan.
Carpenter ants are larger, usually black or black and red, and nest in damp or softened wood. Household ants are small and trail in for food.
Carpenter ants aren't part of Liberty's plans and start with a free inspection; see the carpenter ants article. How the plan treats household ants is on our ants page and pest control page.
When to call a professional
Call when ants keep coming back after you have cleaned up and sealed gaps, when you find tiny yellowish ants in warm spots (they are the ones not to spray), or when you see large ants and sawdust-like shavings.
Common questions
What kinds of ants come into Kentucky homes?
University of Kentucky entomologists list pavement ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, acrobat ants and Pharaoh ants as the ants that most often invade homes in the state [1]. Little black ants and field ants come in from the yard too.
What are the tiny brown ants in my kitchen?
Usually odorous house ants: about 1/16 to 1/8 inch, brown to black, trailing along counters and sinks. Crushed, they smell like rotten coconut.
Why shouldn't you spray Pharaoh ants?
Because a disturbed Pharaoh ant colony can split into several new colonies. Baits that workers carry back to the nest are the usual approach.
Do house ants bite?
The small ants that trail into kitchens rarely bite people. Larger ants such as field ants and carpenter ants can pinch if handled.
Are ants covered by a Liberty pest control plan?
Household ants are covered by every plan. Carpenter ants aren't part of Liberty's plans and start with a free inspection.
Sources
- University of Kentucky Entomology. "Ant Control for Householders." https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef619 (opens in a new tab)
- University of Kentucky Entomology. "ENTFACT-603: Carpenter Ants." https://entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef603 (opens in a new tab)