Are These Black Ants Around My Nashville Home A Problem?

Little Black Ants

In the Nashville area, ants are common pests and little black ants can often be mistaken for carpenter ants, though they really shouldn't be. A black carpenter ant is ½ to ⅝ of an inch long. Little black ants are only 1/16 of an inch. And while little black ants are usually jet black, they can also be a dark brown color.

These little guys create moderate to large colonies that have several queens, and if you try to eliminate them with sprays, you can multiply your problem by dividing a colony into two or more colonies. Fortunately, they're just nuisance ants. They're not going to sting you, spread diseases, or damage your property.

Odorous House Ants

This is another tiny ant that can be mistaken for a carpenter ant. Like little black ants, pavement ants can be black or brown, and they can also be a mere 1/16 of an inch. But these polymorphic ants have workers that can be as large as ⅛ of an inch. While larger, they're still not as big as the smallest carpenter ant.

Odorous house ants are mostly nuisance pests, and boy can they be a nuisance. These ants smell like rotten coconuts when you squish them—and squish them you may, as these ants can come into your garage, porch, or other areas in large numbers.

Pavement Ants

Of all the ants that you could mistake for carpenter ants, these are probably the highest on the list. While they can be a dark brown color, they're usually blackish. This ant species is monomorphic, all the workers are ⅛ of an inch long. There aren't any tiny, 1/16 of an inch workers in a pavement ant colony.

This is a structure-infesting ant. If pavement ants find a crack in your foundation wall, they can build a colony inside your walls. We don't need to tell you how irritating this can be.

Carpenter Ants

These are the largest pest ants in Nashville. As we pointed out, workers are ½ to ⅝ of an inch in length. Winged carpenter ants are twice this size. If you see big, black ants with wings, crawling around in your interior windows, you definitely have a problem. Why? Because winged carpenter ants are reproductives. Their job is to leave the nest and go find new places to create nests. This isn't the worst part. When winged carpenter ants appear inside a home, it is a warning sign of an infestation. These reproductive ants don't want to be in your home. They want to be outside. They're attracted to light. When they appear inside, it is because there is a nest inside the home, or very close to the exterior of the home. In either case, it is a good idea to contact a licensed service professional. You should not let these ants go untreated. Over time, they can do considerable damage.

What if you see carpenter ant workers or winged carpenter ants in your yard? Seeing workers doesn't mean you have an infestation. They could be establishing themselves in stumps, logs, trees with heart rot, or in the ground. They aren't necessarily getting into the wood of your home. If you see winged carpenter ants on your exterior, you should be aware that reproductives don't travel far from the nest they came from. This means you are likely to have a mature nest on or near your property. Whether you see workers or winged reproductives appearing around the exterior of your home, it is wise to protect your property from carpenter ant damage.

We're Here For You

Remember that the service team at All-American Pest Control is on your side. We can help you find problems, eliminate colonies, and put in place a pest control plan to repel and eliminate pest invaders. We provide industry-leading pest control to Nashville homes and businesses in the area. Reach out to us today and schedule a service visit and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Nashville. We can help you figure out what ants are hanging out around your home and guide you toward a pest control solution to get control of them. 

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