Black Garden Ant Or Carpenter Ant

The european species was split into two species.

Black garden ant or carpenter ant. Black ants vs carpenter ants. The size of the two is the most obvious difference with the carpenter species more than three times bigger than that of the black ant. To identify carpenter ants first see if theyre black or brown or a combination of black and orange which carpenter ants can be. First carpenter ants are generally larger than black ants and will usually be around 05 in length.

However there are also some carpenter ants that are reddish orange. Secondly the carpenter ant has a heart shaped head. Another physical difference is their thorax. Unlike regular ants.

There are 10 known species of carpenter ants. Additionally try to estimate the size of your ants. The black ant however is more widespread covering areas such as europe asia and parts of north america. These ants are large with 14 to 12 inch in size.

Colonies of the black garden ant contain an average of 5000 individuals but may grown as large as 15000. Often found under paving stones and bricks but may also nest in the rotting wood of houses. Occasionally the presence of black ants can sometimes be a sign that your home has been invaded into by carpenter ants. Carpenter ant workers have a smooth and rounded upper thorax unlike common garden ants which have rigged thoraxes.

Black ants and carpenter ants are both quite common widely found in north america. In order for you to properly identify these ants all you need to know is a little. You can also check whether the part of your ants bodies that sits just below their heads is round since carpenter ants have rounded. They are more likely to have a dual set of wings and they have elbows on their antennae.

The most notable of these carpenter ants are the ones with the black hue. However many people will assume that every black ant they see is another carpenter ant which can bring an instant but unnecessary panic. If a carpenter ant is a reproductive threat their front wings will be longer than their back wings. True to its name the black garden ant is fond of a garden habitat.

Platythorax which is found in forest habitats. Difference between carpenter ants and black ants identifying carpenter ant vs black ant. The former is roughly 3 times. The black garden ant has been known to nest in cracks in foundations then make its way into homes.

Carpenter ant workers always have a rounded thorax and the one segmented petiole a part that connects the thorax and abdomen while other black ants have an unevenly shaped thorax with either one or two segmented petioles. Niger which are found in open areas. Carpenter ants are generally small only about 38 to an inch long. The black garden ant lasius niger also known as the common black ant is a formicine ant the type species of the subgenus lasius which is found across europe and in some parts of north america south america asia and australasia.

The presence of large black ants in and around the home always raises the question are these carpenter ants and should i worry here is a little basic ant biology to help answer this question. The black ant is just that. Black while the carpenter ant can vary in colour between black red maroon brown or some combination of these colours.