Thatch Ants
Thatch ants are a large ant, sometimes confused with carpenter ants. They have a distinctive red head, which carpenter ants do not. Primarily an outside ant, they will occasionally invade structures. They are beneficial insects, tireless predators of other species.
 Thatch ants typically live in mounds, sometimes as large as 2-3 feet across. These mounds are built of pine needles in most cases. The mound is actually ball-shaped, with half above grade and half below grade. The workers move the queen, eggs, larvae and pupae up and down to keep them at the right temperature and humidity. Thatch ant colonies may be quite large, with many ants present on the mound surface and trails extending hundreds of feet away.
Thatch ants may be kept out of buildings by the application of residual insecticides around the building perimeter. If the mound can be located, it may be killed with the same type of chemicals. In treating a mound, it is necessary to rake it open and apply material to the inside of the mound as well as the surface. In doing so, care should be taken to avoid contacting too many ants – thatch ants do bite, and they spray formic acid on the area after biting. While they are not poisonous and the acid doesn’t hurt, it will cause an itchy rash if too many bites are received. |
