Discover the 4 Types of Ants Set to Emerge in South Carolina This Summer

Summertime means days filled with lounging by the pool, fishing at the lake, and evenings BBQing with family and friends. But it also means ants, and lots of them. They invade your lemonade as soon as you set it down. And they find their way inside, where they head straight for your kitchen. Unfortunately, summer without ants is virtually impossible. If you live in South Carolina, you may wonder what critters you can expect to see as the weather warms. Discover the four types of ants set to emerge in South Carolina this summer, including a few other insects that may make an appearance this season.

When is Ant Season in South Carolina?

Like much of the Southeast, South Carolina is a hot and humid haven for many insects. But when they emerge depends on the species. For instance, carpenter ants tend to come out beginning in March and April. And they don’t go away until September or October. Fire ants are most active from June to early September. Sugar ants are similar to carpenter ants and are most prevalent between March and September. In the most general sense, ant season in South Carolina typically runs from early spring to early fall.

Check out these four ants that call South Carolina home during the summer!

Carpenter Ants

The carpenter ant is one of the most common species found in the state. It is a large ant, measuring between four to 13 mm long. Worker ants are black or black and red, and males are larger. The queens are around one inch long and have wings but will lose them once it begins a new nest. To discern them from other species, look for their rounded thorax and the one node on their waist. 

You may notice more carpenter ants in your South Carolina home beginning in the spring. But you should also note a decrease in their population come the early fall. While these insects are not considered harmful to humans and pets, they can cause considerable damage to the structure of your home. You may not think these pests could do much damage in one season, but carpenter ants can chew their way through a whole lot of wood in just a few short months.

Pavement Ants (Sugar Ants)

Pavement ants, also known as sugar ants, are another common ant species in South Carolina. Technically, they are native to Europe and are an introduced species to North America. But today, they are typical insects seen around the home and outside. You can recognize them by the grooves on their heads and the pair of spines on their backs. They also feature two nodes on their waist (petiole). They are dark brown or black and grow between two and four mm long. The queens and drones have wings, and the workers have small stingers, which they sometimes use on humans. However, they only cause mild discomfort. These are the ants you will most likely find swarming around your picnic table. They also like to find their way inside homes to look for food sources and are especially drawn to any food left out.

Fire Ants

Fire ants, also called red ants, are an introduced species to the state, which have slowly spread across all counties since the 1960s. These ants are reddish-brown with darker abdomens. And they measure between two- and six-mm. Fire ants also feature two nodes and ten segments on their antenna. Unlike other ants, fire ants are known for their aggressive behavior and venomous stinger. They are quick to attack anyone that gets close and use their jaws to grab and their back stinger to pierce the skin. Fire ant stings can be pretty painful, often forming blisters that burn and itch. Look for piles of them in lawns, fields, and roadsides.

Argentine Ants

The Argentine ant is a native species of South America. But they are now an invasive species across the world, predominately in warmer climates. They are common in the Southern United States, including South Carolina, where they began appearing in the 18th century after hitching a ride with coffee and sugar shipments. And they are attracted to sugar, so they will easily find a way into your exterior garbage bins and inside the home. They also enjoy house plants, where they feed on the honeydew produced by aphids. Argentine ants are not known for stinging or biting humans, but they are considered an invasive species because they kill native invertebrates essential to the environment.

Other Insects Set to Emerge in South Carolina This Summer

Now that you know the types of ants set to emerge in South Carolina this season, check out some other insects making their appearance.

If you’ve ever walked around South Carolina at night during the summer, you may have heard the sounds of thousands of insects in the trees and grass. That loud buzzing sound often associated with warm southern nights is the cicadas making their return. Most cicada populations emerge in late summer, with annual species appearing every year. Brood species only surface from the ground every several years, which is when you will see (or hear) an uptick in these noisy yet nostalgic creatures. 

And, of course, the lightning bugs are what every South Carolina summer is made of. Look for their magical synchronous mating rituals in the last three weeks of May.