There are over 12,000 species of ants in the world. Although they have some things in common that we highlighted above, the species can differ widely from one another too. Some of the most common species of ants are described below.

Little black ants

As you may have guessed from their name, these ants are small in size (1.5 to 2mm) and typically black in color (some can be dark brown). They can be found throughout the U.S.and are most active from June to August. They build nests in wooded areas, under logs or rocks, or in rotting wood or wall voids inside or outside of your home.

Little black ants have stingers, but they are too small to cause any real harm to people. They eat common ant foods like grease, oil, meats, fruits, other insects, and plant nectar. It’s hard to control a colony once it’s been established, so prevention is key when it comes to keeping these types of small ants out of your home. Seal cracks and crevices in walls, keep firewood outside of the home, and try to locate any nests that are nearby so you know where the ants are coming from.

Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants are large, typically around ½ to ⅝ of an inch in size. They have heart-shaped heads and can be any combination of red, brown, or black in color. Most are wingless, except for the swarmers, who hatch during spring and summer months and are known as flying carpenter ants. They eat sugars, nectars, and insects like many other ant species. 

Carpenter ants are often confused with termites because they are similar in size and burrow into wood. Some easy ways to tell them apart are by their antennae (carpenter ants have bent antennae while termites have straight antennae) and by their tunnels (carpenter ants dig clean tunnels while termites dig messy tunnels). Both insects nest in damp or damaged wood that has a lot of moisture. The biggest issue with carpenter ants and termites is that their excessive tunneling can compromise the structural integrity of your home.

Fire ants

You can identify the most common type of fire ant, the red imported fire ant, by its reddish brown or yellow color and its small size (1–5 mm). They can be found in tropical locations in South and Central America and in warm southern climates in North America as well. 

These ants can be aggressive, especially the worker ants. They don’t just sting; they also bite to hold themselves steady and adequately inject their stinger. Like most insects, fire ants probably won’t bother you unless they feel threatened. However, if you are stung or bitten, the resulting pustules will hurt, itch, and may get infected if they’re scratched open.

Argentine ants

This ant species is most known for walking in a very long, single-file line. They are especially prominent in California. Typically dark in color and small in size (around 3mm), Argentine ants are commonly found inside homes because that is where they find warmth, food, and water, which is why you may see them in your kitchen or bathroom. They eat sweet foods, including egg yolks, syrups, juices, dead insects, and byproducts like feces and vomit.

These ants are also known for their ability to join forces with other colonies, producing super colonies that can be aggressive toward more native insects and that pose a larger threat of infestation in your home due to the sheer amount of ants. These ants do not sting but they can bite, although, just like little black ants, they’re small enough that their bite doesn’t cause much harm to humans.