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2016 Virginia Tech 3104-1587 (ENTO-213NP) Yellow Ants Eric Day, Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech Description: Workers are medium sized ants and as their name implies are yellow although some can take on a reddish brown color. Size: Workers: 1/16 inch (4mm) or less. Two species of yellow ant occur in Virginia, the Smaller Yellow Ant, Acanthomyops claviger (Roger) and the Larger Yellow Ant, Acanthomyops interjectus (Mayr), both are in the order Hymenoptera and family Formicidae. Habitat: Yellow ants do not forage for inside houses and are not actual pests but their swarming activity can be alarming. Yellow ants swarm in the fall and spring and appear in large numbers around the outside of houses, usually associated with sidewalks, patios, other concrete slabs, and foundation walls. They also appear in basements. They prefer to nest next to a hard surface such as a rock or foundation. Their nests are in these locations, but go unnoticed for most of the year. They avoid light except when swarming Life Cycle: They swarm in the spring and fall, and there may be thousands of winged ants produced from one or more nests in the area. It is not uncommon for several nests to swarm at the same time- producing lots of ants! Type of Damage: Yellow ants are not structural pests. They nest in soil or even in wood close to houses, but rarely enter houses in search of food. They do not damage wood. Control: If control is necessary, use some granular insecticide directly on the nest or mound. Replaces: 3104-1587

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2016 Virginia Tech 3104-1587 (ENTO-213NP)

YellowAnts

EricDay,DepartmentofEntomology,VirginiaTechDescription:Workersaremediumsizedantsandastheirnameimpliesareyellowalthoughsomecantakeonareddishbrowncolor.Size:Workers:1/16inch(4mm)orless.Twospeciesofyellowant occur in Virginia, the Smaller Yellow Ant, Acanthomyops claviger (Roger) and the LargerYellow Ant, Acanthomyops interjectus (Mayr), both are in the order Hymenoptera and familyFormicidae.Habitat: Yellow ants donot forage for insidehouses and are not actualpests but their swarmingactivity can be alarming.Yellow ants swarm in thefall and spring and appearin large numbers aroundthe outside of houses,usually associated withsidewalks, patios, otherconcrete slabs, andfoundationwalls.Theyalsoappear inbasements.Theyprefer to nest next to ahardsurfacesuchasarockor foundation. Their nestsare in these locations, butgo unnoticed for most oftheyear.TheyavoidlightexceptwhenswarmingLife Cycle: They swarm in the spring and fall, and there may be thousands of winged antsproducedfromoneormorenestsinthearea.Itisnotuncommonforseveralneststoswarmatthesametime-producinglotsofants!TypeofDamage:Yellowantsarenotstructuralpests.Theynestinsoiloreveninwoodclosetohouses,butrarelyenterhousesinsearchoffood.Theydonotdamagewood.Control:Ifcontrolisnecessary,usesomegranularinsecticidedirectlyonthenestormound.Replaces:3104-1587