I have an ant problem in my home. These are pest ants, generically
called pissants or sometimes sugar ants. I would like to know the
EXACT species of these ants.
I have a DigitalBlue digital microscope, and have posted some pictures
(at 60X) at http://67.170.148.164/ants
I?m strongly suspect these are Odorous House Ants, per the description
I found at websites such as
http://www.pestproducts.com/odorous_house_ant.htm. However, there are
a couple of things that make me question this identification.
First, the ant is described as being especially prominent in the
mid-South. I live in Portland, Oregon (and we are currently
experiencing a wet and chilly Spring). I don?t know if this ant lives
in my area or tolerates cold climates.
Second, the ?smell? characteristic is described as ?rotten coconut?
(though I wouldn?t really know what that smelled like). I crushed
three of these ants. They have a somewhat unpleasant odor (but not
?ewwww - nasty?), but I must be rather close (about 2? away) to smell
it. The descriptions I?ve read (at this and other websites) led me to
believe the odor would be worse with greater range.
These ants are of uniform size and appearance. They are 3/16? ? 1/4?
long. The body is a light brown, the head is black, and the abdomen
appears to be brown/black striped.
They follow scent trails. They are coming from a faraway outside
location (across neighbors yards that are inaccessible to me ? at
least for raking up their flower beds) and they are entering my house
from at least two locations.
They seem to be moving around. One day we will see lots of them in
one room, and the next day they have moved, with no sign of them in
the former location.
I do not see a concentration of them around food areas (kitchen trash
cans, etc). I don?t know what they?re eating.
I would be willing to mail some of these ants to a researcher if s/he
thought it would justify the time and effort.
Thanks! |
