Pest Facts: Rover Ant
Description
This ant gets its name from its habit of running about in large areas with no sense of direction when searching for food. These tiny insects are mostly seen outdoors but may invade indoors.
Pest Facts
- Color: Dark Brown to black
- Legs: Six
- Shape: Segmented; oval
- Size: 1/16 inch
- Antennae: Yes
- Flying: Winged swarmers
- Region: Most southern states
Habits:
These ants often forage under the soil’s surface along roots where subterranean aphids and mealy bugs are found. Foraging workers seen indoors are generally seen in kitchens and bathrooms. Rover ants primarily feed on “honeydew” from aphids and dead insects.
Habitat:
Typically nest outdoors under heavy vegetation, mulch beds, and rotting wood. They will also nest in potted plants.
Threats:
A stinger is absent and workers may feed on almost any household food.
Prevention:
Eliminate standing water. Pests such as Rover Ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes ants use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Ants like to build nests in stacks of wood.
