Field Ants

Field ants (Formica spp.) are found throughout the United States but primarily in the Midwest and North. They are large (3/8" long) and dark brown to black. They are often confused with the carpenter ant, but can be distinguished by an uneven thorax.

Field ants feed on other insects as well as insect honeydew. They cause concern because they usually nest near structures. Nests are often made in grassy areas and can be difficult to see because they are low to the ground. Field ants will also nest in leaf litter or mulch that is more than two inches thick, and can live under stones, firewood, or other debris that might be found in a lawn area.

If pesticide drenches of mounds are used to manage this insect it should be remembered that they will be slow to act because it often takes foraging ants days to return to the nest.

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