I have ants that have dug a hole about 15 inches in diameter and about 6 inches deep next to a small pine tree. They piled the dirt from the hole in a...
Knowledgebase
Ant Colony Needs Identification #878332
Asked July 22, 2024, 6:29 PM EDT
I have ants that have dug a hole about 15 inches in diameter and about 6 inches deep next to a small pine tree. They piled the dirt from the hole in a pile next to the hole. There are many tunnels in the hole 1/4” to 1/2” in diameter. I see many traveling to and from nest at distances at least 100 feet from this nest. Their head is red and the two rear sections are black. I think there are some all black ones to. Some have wings. There are thousands of them. I suspect they are carpenter ants. Do you know what they are and how to kill the next. I’ve included an image of the hole/nest
Park CountyColorado
Expert Response
Hi Jim,
Based on your description and the picture of the mound, it sounds more like Western Thatching Ants (Formica obscuripes) than carpenter ants. Unlike carpenter ants, they do not attack trees. These ants are beneficial, consuming insects that may be garden pests ,, scavenging for dead insects/organic matter, and aerating the soil through their tunneling. May I ask why you consider them pests? Control can be costly and environmentally damaging, so I only recommend it when the insects pose a significant threat to safety or property.
I was concerned they were in the roots of the tree. I’ve seen the carrying/dragging insects including their dead, so it could be WTAs. I was fascinated but also concerned that they dug this hole. There is no mound, just the hole. I’ll leave them alone and read about them. Thanks for the info.
