An ant attack indicates the presence of an ant colony in or around the house. An ant colony cannot survive without an ant queen because it is the ant queen who is responsible for reproduction. So, to get to the root of the problem, you should identify the queen ant by looking at its size, wings or wing attachments, and its large thorax, as well as the placement of the center within the colony.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Checking the Ants
Step 1. Look at the size of the ant
Queen ants are generally larger than ordinary worker ants. If you see an ant that looks bigger than usual, it's most likely a queen ant.
- The ant will appear larger than any nearby ants, or any other ants you see.
- Also think about the types of ants you see. Queen leaf cutter ants tend to be larger than worker ants. However, the size of worker ants in fire ants and wood ants is different. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish between queen ants and worker ants based solely on their size.
Step 2. See if there are wings on the ants
In many ant colonies, the queen ant is born with wings. When the queen ant matures, she must fly to find a new colony in order to mate. An ant with wings is most likely a queen ant.
Some male ants do have wings, but they tend to be invisible. Male ants with wings are generally slimmer and wasp-like than queen ants, which are generally larger
Step 3. Look for signs that the ants have shed their wings
The ant queen sheds her wings at some point in her life. If you bend down and look at the ant's midsection, you may see small bumps on either side of the ant's body. The lump is where the wings attach, a sign that the ant once had wings. After the queen ant sheds its wings, the place where the wings attach is a sign that you have found the queen ant.
Step 4. Examine the thorax
The thorax is the part of the ant's body that unites the neck and abdomen. Queen ants generally have a larger thorax than worker ants.
- Since the queen ant's thorax once supported the wings, it will be larger and more muscular than the worker ant's body.
- The queen ant's thorax is larger than half its body size. Much larger than the thorax of an ordinary ant.
Part 2 of 2: Consider Other Factors
Step 1. Think of the area where you found ants
If you're not sure how to identify ants just by their appearance, consider where you found the ants. The queen ant tends to be found in the center of the anthill. Queen ants tend to prefer damp areas, usually found in rotting wood. If you find ants hiding in damp areas of your house or outdoors, especially in damp wood, it is most likely the queen of ants.
Step 2. Consider the possibility of army ants
Most types of ants have a queen with a larger size and thorax that can be easily distinguished from worker ants. However, not so with army ants. The army ant queen has a smaller thorax so it looks very much like the worker ants in this colony. As a result, you may find it difficult to identify the queen of the army ants. Army ants are more oval in shape than ordinary ants. Army ants have antennae on their heads, as well as a mouth shaped like a pair of scissors.
Step 3. Consult an expert
If you can't find the queen ant, try talking to a professional exterminator about this. Ants can be a serious problem in your home. So if you can't find the queen ant yourself, or identify the type of ant, contact an exterminator.
