Georgians Prepare! These 6 Ant Types Are Set to Emerge This Summer

Written by Nixza Gonzalez
Updated: May 4, 2023
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Ants are common in Georgia. There are about 25 ant species that have been recorded in the state. Many of them can invade your home and backyard. A few species though are more common during the summer. Some of the most common ants in Georgia during summer are listed below.

Pharaoh Ants

The first ant on our list is the pharaoh ant. These small insects are common in Georgia. You can find them inside homes and in backyards. They are especially common in hospitals. This invasive ant species is also very small! An average pharaoh ant is about 1/16th of an inch long.

Pharoah ants are found throughout the world, but their exact origin is unknown. However, some experts theorize it originates from the Afro-tropical region. Interestingly, within a colony, there are multiple queens, sometimes up to 200! Pharoah ant queens can lay hundreds of eggs throughout their lives. The queens live between 4 to 12 months.

These ants are foragers and work together to find food. Scouts look for food in the morning. As soon as the food is located, they return to the next and lead several ants back to the food source.

Pharaoh ant

Pharoah ants are found throughout the world, but we don’t know their exact origin.

©iStock.com/Suman Ghosh

Black Carpenter Ants

Black carpenter ants are the most common ants in Georgia. They are one of the largest ant species found in North America. This ant species originates in the central and eastern United States as well as eastern Canada. Black carpenter ants have black bodies and small white hairs on their abdomens. They also have light wings.

While most black carpenter queens are larger than working ants, some of the largest ants can reach their size. These working ants are foragers and use their pheromones to create a trail. Black carpenter ants travel far distances quickly. They can forage as far as 100 yards from their nests.

These pests are everywhere in the state. However, they can be found in many buildings and homes. These ants can squeeze through small spots but mainly enter homes through openings near windows. Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to a home since they destroy wood.

Carpenter Ant

Black carpenter ants are destructive and enter homes through cracks in the buildings.

©iStock.com/DianaLynne

Fire Ants

Fire ants are one of the most well-known ants since they deliver a powerful bite that can leave you itching for days. These bright red and small ants are an invasive species throughout the world and are very common in Georgia. While they can invade homes, most fire ants live outdoors and build large nests or ant hills.

Fire ants, also known as red imported fire ants, are native to South America. However, many ants are called fire ants. For instance, fire ants can refer to over 200 species in the genus Solenopsis. Although the size of fire ants varies depending on the species, none are larger than half an inch.

These ants also reproduce quickly and can build nests in no time! They thrive in urban and disturbed areas. Interestingly, these ants are attracted to electricity and can cause damage to equipment.

Aggressive Animal: Fire ant

Red fire ants are found in Georgia but are native to South America.

©sarawuth wannasathit/Shutterstock.com

Thief Ants

Although many ants on this list are invasive, thief acts are native to Georgia. They are one of the most common ants across the state. Thief ants are found throughout the United States and parts of Mexico.

Thief ants are unique ants. They are attracted to grease and can live indoors and outdoors. They are common in restaurants and food trucks. These small ants can quickly invade homes and cause problems.

Thief ants aren’t just frustrating for humans, but other ants! The reason they are called thief ants is that they build nests next to other ant species. They then steal food from the other ants.

These tiny ants are yellow to light brown. Queens are about 5mm long while working ants range from 0.5mm to 3mm.

brown ant Solenopsis molesta walking on a dry leaf

Thief ants steal food from other ant species by building their nests close.

©Carlos Calvo Torregrosa/Shutterstock.com

Argentine Ants

While Argentine ants aren’t native to the United States, they are found in Georgia. They are native to northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil. However, you can find these small ants throughout South Africa, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.

Argentine ants are about 2.2 to 2.6 mm long. In a colony, multiple queens exist. Argentine ants aren’t limited to building nests outdoors. Instead, these pesky ants can build nests and pathways in human dwellings and concrete cracks.

These ants are considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive animal species. They compete heavily with native ant species, destroying nests and taking away food. When ant species are displaced, other native animals in the region can suffer. An example of this is the horned lizards in southern California. They are declining because of a lack of food.

Argentine ants are native to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil, but have been introduced to South

Africa

, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.

©Javier Chiavone/Shutterstock.com

Immigrant Pavement Ants

The last common ant species in Georgia on our list is the immigrant pavement ant. These ants have many names. In some parts of the United States, they are called sugar ants. However, many ant species are called sugar ants. Although they are native to Europe, you can find immigrant pavement ants throughout the world, but they are especially a pest in the United States.

Immigrant pavement ants are dark brown to black and can measure up to 4mm. These ants have wings, but queens have larger functioning wings. Interstingly, queen immigrant pavement ants shed their wings after finding a nesting site.

Worker ants have a stinger, which causes discomfort in humans but is nearly harmless. These ants build nests everywhere, including underneath concrete pavements. They are also common underneath patios and building foundations. Immigrant pavement ant colonies are massive and can include between 3,000 to over 10,000 worker ants.

Immigrant pavement ants live in large colonies with about 3,000 to 10,000 worker ants.

©Ernie Cooper/Shutterstock.com

Other Insects Set to Emerge in Summer

Georgia has more than enough insects and many of them are most active during summer! One of the most common insects in Georgia during summer is mosquitos. These pesky insects carry dangerous diseases. Even those that don’t carry diseases still caught red bumps and rashes after biting.

In Georgia, there are about 63 recorded species of mosquitos. Many of them live in woodland pools and along roads. They are most common near a body of still water. Mosquito season in Georgia lasts from March to October, but it peaks during the summer as the temperature rises.

Other common insects active in summer are termites and carpenter bees. Termites cause a lot of damage in the state. These small insects can easily squeeze through small spaces in a home and invade. Although termites are active all year round in the state, summer provides the best environment. These wood-loving insects thrive in hot and humid areas.

Bees are very helpful insects, and they are common throughout spring and summer. Carpenter bees are very active during summers in Georgia. These large bees are most commonly found in Middle Georgia. They have black fuzzy bodies and can measure up to 1.5 inches long. Carpenter bees are one of the first bees in the state to emerge in spring. Although carpenter bees leave humans alone, they can destroy homes and furniture by repeatedly building nests.

Mosquito at Sunset

Mosquitos are a common summer pest in Georgia.

©mycteria/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © thomaslabriekl/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Nixza Gonzalez is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics like travel, geography, plants, and marine animals. She has over six years of experience as a content writer and holds an Associate of Arts Degree. A resident of Florida, Nixza loves spending time outdoors exploring state parks and tending to her container garden.

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