12 replies to this topic

[fabiemay]

 Hello All!
 

I have found these ants in and around my small yard in Houston Heights in Texas. They have not come into my house. 
 

Last week of September. Though it should be noted that they appeared in great numbers after the recent tropical storm Beta on Sept 22. We got over a foot of water over 3 days so I believe they were always there just under ground.

 

Urban yard with plants and decorative stone, the ant I took a picture of was on my one large "old" Live Oak.

 

Do not know the length I won't even attempt to guess. They are small. I have attached a photo of one on my hand.

 

They have a orange head and Thorax, black gastor with strips hairy gastor. They are shiny. 

 

Though they do go crazy if you disturb the mound but they are slow to sting I had several on my hands at different times and only got stung twice and though it is bothersome not nearly as much as I remember fire ants to be. They are most active during the day. 

 

I found several openings and one large mound that came up they seem to be the same ant. The openings have popped up over a 20ft area. I am concerned with the number of ants that I am seeing, that it may be a spectacularly large underground colony and that they may hurt my oak or keep getting closer to my home (right now they are about 8 feet away.  I have a colony of Elongate Twig ants that I love, because they are awesome! But I need to know if I need to control these and if so, how do I do it without hurting my Twig ants?

 

I am including photos of the ant, some entrances and one large mound. These are all in and about a 20ft long area

 

Thank in advance for your help

 

[TechAnt]

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

[ponerinecat]

You've got Camponotus in the first pic and Solenopsis xyloni in the rest.

[TennesseeAnts]

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

[TechAnt]

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

Huh, you learn something new everyday!

[fabiemay]

You've got Camponotus in the first pic and Solenopsis xyloni in the rest.

I thought so too but the stings I received from the ants in the mounds hurt for just a moment and never whelped up. I am allergic so the non-reaction to the sting made me think I was dealing with something else. 

[fabiemay]

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

This is a terrible possibility, taking into account my oak. I was hoping they were not since they are small.

What about the ants in the mounds? They seem to be identical to me.

[ponerinecat]

 

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

This is a terrible possibility, taking into account my oak. I was hoping they were not since they are small.

What about the ants in the mounds? They seem to be identical to me.

 

Well no, Camponotus won't do much damage to a live tree, especially not myrmentoma. If the ants in the mounds are the ones pictured in the last pictures, then they're Solenopsis xyloni, like we already meantioned. there's pretty big differences between them, most notably size.

[TennesseeAnts]

 

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

This is a terrible possibility, taking into account my oak. I was hoping they were not since they are small.

What about the ants in the mounds? They seem to be identical to me.

 

The ants you pictured with the mounds are Solenopsis sp. It could be S. xyloni, but more likely S. invicta.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, October 1 2020 - 3:22 PM.

[ponerinecat]

 

 

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

This is a terrible possibility, taking into account my oak. I was hoping they were not since they are small.

What about the ants in the mounds? They seem to be identical to me.

 

The ants you pictured with the mounds are Solenopsis sp. It could be S. xyloni, but more likely S. invicta.

 

Invicta mounds are very rarely so shallow, even for young nests.

[fabiemay]

Thanks everyone for your help! I greatly appreciate the input!

[TennesseeAnts]

 

 

 

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

This is a terrible possibility, taking into account my oak. I was hoping they were not since they are small.

What about the ants in the mounds? They seem to be identical to me.

 

The ants you pictured with the mounds are Solenopsis sp. It could be S. xyloni, but more likely S. invicta.

 

Invicta mounds are very rarely so shallow, even for young nests.

 

Ah, you're right. S. invicta do make much larger mounds. I seem to have overlooked that important detail. 

[RushmoreAnts]

 

It looks like a species of Formica, I would wait for more members to give their input before deciding on any ID. 

It's actually one of the many Texan Camponotus sp.

 

I second this. Many Camponotus, especially down south, have this bright, bicolored coloration.