Do red harvester ants live in Texas?
Species exist throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Red harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, are common in Texas, but have suffered decline in much of the state due to red imported fire ant. Red imported fire ant generally do not prey upon harvester ants, but out compete them for resources.
How do you identify ants in Texas?
One of the easiest methods to distinguish the various ants in Texas is to look at the color, shape, or size of the head, thorax, pedicel (1 or 2 segments connecting the thorax to the abdomen), and abdomen. Here are the most common species of ants in Texas and their unique characteristics. 1. Red Imported Fire Ant
What is a red ant?
Chestnut Carpenter Ants (Camponotus castaneus) are some of the most common red ants in the Northern parts of the US and Canada. This is a species that has a dark red color, as opposed to the brighter red coloring of Southern ants. It’s believed red ants in the North have darker nuances as they need to absorb extra heat from the sun.
What color are red imported fire ants?
Red Imported Fire Ants can be recognized by brown-red coloring. Male Red Imported Fire Ants are black. These ants are found in various sizes from 2.4 to 6mm. The reason for high differences in body size is given by the polymorphic nature of Red Imported Fire Ants. This means 2 or more variations exist in the same species.