Color: Black to brown body with pale yellowish-white tarsi or “feet”
Legs: 6
Shape: Thorax lacks spine; profile unevenly rounded
Size: 1/8” (2.5-3 mm) long
Antennae: Yes
White-footed ants get their common name from their very light-colored feet. Mature colonies can range from 8,000 to 3 million individuals, with as many as 33 percent being reproductive.
White-footed ants prefer to feed on honeydew and nectar at night, and will readily invade commercial premises in search of sweet liquids and water. Unlike most ants, foraging white-footed ants do not share their food with other ants. Instead, many of the sterile workers in the colony lay eggs, called trophic eggs, which serve as the food source for the larvae and the non-foraging adults.
White-footed ants don’t have a stinger and do not cause any structural damage. However, they can become a nuisance if they find a way inside a building.
White-footed ants infest both urban and rural habitats, as they spread to other areas through commerce, such as nursery stock and shipping containers. Preferred nesting sites are near moisture and food sources that also provide protection from predators and harsh environmental conditions.
Outdoors, this type of ant likes to nest in small, moist environments, including under loose bark or rocks, in decaying tree trunks and branches, and in old termite galleries. Indoors, white-footed ants can be found nesting in wall voids, attics, under roof shingles, around skylights, and in food preparation areas and bathrooms.
Locating the nest is key to the prevention of white-footed ants. Once the nest has been located, remove possible harborage sites, such as rocks, wood, concrete objects, etc. It’s also important to seal any cracks or crevices on the exterior of the home.
White-footed ants are found extensively throughout North America. They prefer forest locations and build distinctive, tent-like nests.
No. White-footed ants don’t bite or sting, and they don’t carry any diseases that are transmittable to human beings.
These ants are persistent, so working with a pest control professional is the best way to prevent them, or to deal with an existing infestation.