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How to Verify Ant Breeds

Verifying ant breeds (species) is important because each one requires a different treatment when controlling as pests. There are more than 12,000 ant species found throughout the world with 700 species in the U.S., according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Most entomologists consider ants America's Number One Pest. Species differ widely in food requirements and behaviors, and many closely resemble each other physically. To verify species, start by identifying key features. Final identification is then made from size, color, other body characteristics and behavior.

Things You'll Need

Tweezers
Plastic freezer bags
Magnifying glass
Field guides or Internet ID sites

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the ants for verification. Collect ants from your yard or home by grabbing them carefully with a pair of tweezers. Then place them into a zip lock bag for freezing. After 24 hours, manipulate the ant body with the tweezers again to see the features more clearly. Use a 10-15x magnifying glass to observe the features.
- 2
  Consult one of a multitude of insect field guides in print and websites specifically dedicated to ant identification. You can rapidly narrow the ant breed down by first consulting your local university extension sites, many of which offer an elaborate "keying" system for ant identification.
- 3
  Familiarize yourself with basic ant anatomy. The three main body regions -- head, thorax and abdomen -- differ widely among various ant breeds and are key to identification.
- 4
  Count the petiole nodes on the ant to narrow down the breed. The petiole, the first portion of the abdomen between the thorax and the gaster is the first characteristic looked at when identifying ants. Ants will either have one or two petiole nodes.
- 5
  Verify physical characteristics for further clues such as size, color, thorax shape, antennae segments and even odor when crushed.
- 6
  Verify the ant behavior prior to collection. What was it feeding on? How did it move (i.e., fast, slow, sporadic)?
- 7
  Verify the ant's nest. Where was it located? Was it mounded?

Insects & Science