Ants Found in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma

Carpenter ants have an ash-brown trusty-orange head and thorax, and their abdomen is black..

Size:Range from 3/16 inch to 1/2 inch in length

Behavior:Carpenter ants forage alone or along trails 300 or more feet from the nest. They enter buildings around door and window frames, through eaves, along plumbing and utility lines, and over branches touching the building. Peak foraging occurs at night. Carpenter ants can inflict a nasty pinch when disturbed.

Pharaoh ants have a pale yellow to the reddish body and black shading on their abdomen’s top and rear portion. They also have a stinger.

Size:Range from 1/16 inch to 1/12 inch in length

Behavior:Pharaoh ants feed on sweets and dead insects. They forage in strong, tightly linked trails. They have multiple queens and multiple nesting locations.

Pavement ants are light brown to black in color and have pale legs and antennae.

Size:1/8 inch in length

Behavior:Pavement ants are opportunistic feeders that will “swarm” on foods within their foraging range. Outdoors, this ant feeds on insects, honeydew, seeds, and plant sap. Once inside your home, they feed on meats, nuts, cheese, honey, bread crumbs, and grease.

Odorous House ants are dark brown & black in color.

Size:1/8 inch in length

Behavior:Odorous House ants regularly forage for food along well-traveled trails. They feed on dead insects, sweets, and meats, though they prefer honeydew.