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Large Yellow Ants
 Order/Family: Hymenoptera/Formicidae
Scientific Name: Acanthomyops spp.
Description:
The most common species, the larger yellow ant, is sometimes called
"citronella ant". These ants have a distinct lemony smell when they
are crushed. In the Northwest, these ants nest in structural areas where there
is high moisture content; hence the common name, moisture ant. They are large
ants ranging from 1/4- to 3/16-inch long. They are pale yellow to yellow-red and
have a single node in their petioles and a circle of hairs at the tip of the
abdomen.
Biology:
Very little is known about the biology of these ants. The large winged
reproductives develop in the fall and overwinter, emerging in swarms, often by
the thousands, in the early spring through early fall. They often emerge into
structures (particularly heated basements) causing the occupants to misidentify
them as termites because of their size and their appearance during termite
swarming season.
Habits:
Large yellow ants nest in rotting wood, in the soil, and in the foundations of
homes. Indoors they are found in the crawlspace soil, between insulation and
subflooring, in moist wood, etc. Outdoors large nests are found under rotting
firewood, patio stones, rocks, landscape timbers, etc. these ants tend to
excavate large galleries and stack up large amounts of soil adjacent to the
nesting site. In some parts of the country, multiple small openings (mounds) may
appear throughout the lawn.
They feed exclusively on honeydew obtained from the aphids they
tend on plants. Because yellow ants forage at night, they are seldom seen in
structures by customers, and perhaps this explains why they have never been
reported feeding on human food.
Control:
If they are nesting in moist wood in the structure, the moisture source should
be eliminated and the wood dried. Rotting firewood that is serving as a nesting
site should be removed. These ants are seldom of concern in structures except
when the swarmers emerge. Swarmers are best removed using a vacuum cleaner.
After collection, the vacuum bag should be sealed and discarded. If this is not
pratical, a nonresidual aerosol should be used to knockdown the swarmers. Nests
located in or around structures should be drenched with a liquid residual
product.
Controlling aphids
on ornamental plants and trees around structures removes their primary food
source and causes them to forage elsewhere for food.
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