Big Red Ants

Red ants are an alarming find because they’re often associated with stinging fire ants. No one wants to deal with a painful encounter with fire ants, so it’s no surprise that people back off quickly when they see an ant that’s red in color. While fire ants are red, there are actually several species that can have this hue. Learn more about the types of red ants you may find in your home.

Are All Red Ants Fire Ants?

While fire ants are one of the best-known species of red ants, there are other types of red ants as well. Ant identification is always the first step in proper ant control. Here are some top contenders that you might be dealing with if you see big red ants in the home.

• Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants can be black, dark brown, or reddish in color. Some are black with red markings. These ants are typically around 5/8-inch long. Carpenter ants tunnel into rotting wood to make their homes. If you have wet or damaged wood in the home, you’re at risk of a carpenter ant infestation. These ants can do serious structural damage. Watch out for the ants themselves as well as piles of wood shavings, which indicate a nest.
• Velvet ants: Velvet ants aren’t actually ants at all. They are wasps that look like ants. They are fuzzy, wingless, and can be bright red in color. Their straight antennae can help you identify them as wasps rather than ants, as ants have elbowed antennae. Velvet ants are 1/8 to 7/8-inch long. They have a painful sting that you might confuse for a fire ant bite.
• Tawny crazy ants: Tawny crazy ants, also known as raspberry crazy ants, are quickly establishing themselves as major pest in Texas and other parts of the Gulf area. They are reddish-brown in color with long legs and antennae. They’re called “crazy” ants because of their erratic movements. They crawl quickly and do not follow a straight line. They often nest in electrical equipment and cause shortages.
• Red imported fire ants: The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is the most common type of fire ant in the United States. These are typically found in Florida. The body is red or reddish-brown in color. These ants are typically 1/4 to 1/8-inch long. RIFA creates mounds around the entrances to their nests, making them easier to spot.
• Southern fire ants: The southern fire ant has a redhead with a red and black abdomen. This ant is between 1/4 and 1/8-inch in length. These ants prefer a hot, dry climate and are found in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California. They can nest in crawl spaces, wall voids, or under carpets. They may also nest underground, leaving irregular craters with one or more openings.
• Tropical fire ants: The tropical fire ant is very similar to the RIFA. However, they are slightly larger with a square-shaped head. Tropical fire ants live in Hawaii and some parts of the southern United States. The tropical fire ant’s nest does not have a mound at the entrance like a RIFA nest. Instead, the dirt is spread more evenly at the entrance.

Fire Ant vs Red Ant

As you can see, fire ants are not the only red ants that you may encounter. The most distinguishing characteristic of a fire ant is its sting. Fire ant stings are quite painful. These ants typically sting when you brush at them, which is the typical reaction if you find that you’ve disturbed a nest and have fire ants crawling up your legs to investigate.

When the fire ant feels threatened it can both bite and sting. These ants can use their stingers multiple times in a single attack. About one percent of people are severely allergic to fire ant bites. For these individuals, a fire ant sting can cause a potentially fatal reaction. If you experience any signs of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, swelling, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Dangers of Large Red Ants

If you spot big red ants in or around your home, it’s important to identify them properly. A pest control professional is an excellent source of information in this instance. Calling for an inspection can help you determine what type of ant is on your property and where its nest is. In the case of many red ant species, it’s best to eliminate the infestation even if it’s not inside your home. Fire ants in the yard can still launch a painful attack if they’re disturbed.

The dangers of red ants vary depending on the species that you’re dealing with. Carpenter ants nest in wood, causing structural damage to the home. Tawny crazy ants can short circuit computers and other electronics. Velvet ants have a painful sting. As mentioned previously, fire ants have a painful sting and bite. Red ants are rarely something you want to permit around your home.

What to Do About Red Ants

If you have red ants in or around your home, it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible. Ants can reproduce quickly and establish huge nests. A carpenter ant parent nest has around 2,000 workers. Satellite colonies surrounding it can increase this number further. Even red velvet ants, which are actually solitary wasps, should be handled promptly. Working with a pest control professional is the best way to eliminate any kind of insect problem.

For most ants, bait is the best solution. It’s important to identify the ant properly so you can use a bait that will appeal to the ant while also effectively eradicating the nest. You must have a bait that the foraging ants will carry back to the nest. This is the most effective way to reach the queen. If you can’t kill the queen, the nest will continue to thrive and any workers killed while foraging is easily replaced.

Big red ants are something you should always investigate further. Take the proper steps to keep these invaders away from your home.