Little black ants are small, black insects with a narrow waist and 12-segmented antennae. They nest indoors and outdoors, forming trails and seeking sugary foods. Colonies contain many ants and may have multiple queens. Reproduction involves winged males and females.

Little black ants are commonly active during the warmer months, particularly from spring through summer.

Little black ant colonies form when winged male and female ants mate during swarming flights, commonly in warm months. After mating, fertilized females become queens and establish new nests in various locations, both indoors and outdoors.

Little black ants feed on honeydew, pollen, and dead or living insects outdoors. Inside homes and structures, they consume crumbs and food remains in kitchens, pantries, and other areas where food is stored or prepped. They prefer grease, meat, fruits and vegetables, and sweets.

Although little black ants are equipped with stingers, they are too small to have any real effect. They are considered nuisance pests when they infest structures.

Little black ants are drawn indoors when food sources outside are running low, but may also enter through cracks and gaps on the exterior of a house when out foraging.

In order to get rid of little black ants, it is imperative that you locate and treat the nest, not just the ants crawling in the kitchen or along your foundation walls or sidewalks. For optimal results, you should contact a pest control company for help.

To prevent little black ants from infesting your property, our pest control specialists recommend:

• Filling all cracks around the house
• Eliminating moisture problems
• Cleaning up food spills right away
• Emptying trash can regularly
• Washing dishes after every meal
• Storing food in containers with tight-fitting lids
• Clearing debris in the yard
• Trimming back tree branches as well as shrubs and bushes so that they do not touch the exterior of the house
• Repairing or replacing leaking appliances
• Fixing plumbing issues
• Replacing water-damaged wood