PAVEMENT ANTS. If you see lines of small-to-medium sized, blackish ants, trailing along water pipes or utility lines, especially on the outside, they are very likely to be Pavement Ants. Their average colony contains 3 to 4,000 workers, and has several queens. Outside nests are usually located under the edge of a large stone or a sidewalk. They may nest in wall voids, insulation, under a floor or in ground-level masonry. These ants will feed on nearly anything, but often show a preference for meats or greasy foods. They are not usually aggressive toward humans but sometimes bite and have a very painful sting as well.

FIRE ANTS. These ants get their common name from their very painful bites and stings. They are small yellowish-red to black ants. They usually nest in the ground, but sometimes a partial colony may be located within a structure, usually in a wall near heat or moisture.. There may be as many as 80,000 to 250,000 ants per colony. Some colonies have more than one queen and can be much larger. A typical colony mound is rounded, about 18" high and 24" across. When stung, humans develop a blister-like pustule at the site and true allergic reactions can be life threatening.