Thief Ant

If you live in Madison, Wisconsin, you may have encountered a tiny ant that seems to be everywhere. This ant is called the thief ant, and it is a common pest in the area. Thief ants are named for their habit of stealing food and brood from other ants.

How to Identify Thief Ants

Thief ants are very small ants, ranging from 1/32 to 1/8 inch in size. They can be pale yellow to light or dark brown in color. They have two nodes (stinger) on their waist, no spines on their thorax, and 10 segmented antennae with a two-segmented club on the end. Thief ants can be easily confused with other small ants, such as pharaoh ants or little black ants, so it is important to look closely at their features or consult a professional pest control expert.

How Thief Ants Live and Reproduce

Thief ants are social insects that live in colonies with multiple queens and workers. Their colonies are smaller than most ants, ranging from 300 to 5,000 in total. This is because they rely on stealing food from other ants, which limits their food sources and growth potential. Thief ants prefer greasy and high protein foods, such as insects, meats, cheese, and seeds. They will also feed on dead animals, such as rats and mice, and may carry disease-causing organisms to human food.

Thief ants’ nests are in exposed soil, under objects and trees. They can also invade homes and buildings, especially in high moisture areas or where other ants are present. Thief ants are attracted to other ants because they can raid their nests and steal their food and brood. They can even take over other colonies by killing their queens and workers.

Thief ants reproduce by swarming from June to September. The winged males and females mate in the air and then land to start new colonies. The queens will carry a worker or two with them to help them establish the nest. They will also steal brood from other colonies to increase their numbers. The queens lay eggs that take 50 days to a few months to develop into adults.

How to Prevent and Control Thief Ants

The best way to prevent thief ant infestations is to reduce the conditions that attract them. Here are some tips to follow:

• Reduce moisture by fixing leaks, improving drainage, and using dehumidifiers.
• Keep vegetation cut back away from the structure to eliminate hiding places.
• Store wood piles and building materials away from the structure to avoid creating nesting sites.
• Seal cracks and gaps around the base of the structure to prevent entry points.
• Keep other ants away from the structure by eliminating their food sources and using baits or sprays.
• Clean up spills and crumbs promptly and store food in sealed containers.
• Dispose of trash regularly and use tight-fitting lids on garbage cans.

Fun Facts 

• Their common name comes from their tendency to nest near other ants to steal their food and brood.
• They will occasionally take over other colonies as well by killing their queens and workers.
• They have been found feeding on dead rats and mice inside walls or ceilings.
• They have also been intermediate hosts for the poultry tapeworm, which can infect chickens and turkeys.

If you have a thief ant infestation, you may need professional help from Kwik Kill Pest Control to get rid of them. Thief ants are very difficult to control because of their small size, multiple nesting sites, and resistance to some insecticides. 

Call the Experts Today for an honest quote and evaluation to meet your specific needs!

Kwik Kill Services to Control Thief Ants: 

• Home Protection Program
• Insect & Rodent Combo Package
• Small Ant Control

Additional Information:

https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/thief.html
https://extension.psu.edu/thief-ant
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/thief-ants