White-Footed Ants

These pests have light-colored feet which is where they get their common name. However, the colonies of these ants are unlike other ant colonies. Mature colonies of White-Footed Ants can house up to 3 million ants with as high as 33% of those being reproductives. While these ants don’t have a stinger or cause structural damage, they can create quite a nuisance for occupants of any dwelling or establishment.

Infestations of white-footed ants can happen in both urban and rural areas. Since they spread to other areas through commerce transactions like nursery stock and shipping containers. Seeking protection from predators and harsh environmental conditions, white-footed ants prefer nesting sites are near moisture and food sources. In homes, these ants can make nests in wall voids, attics, roof shingles, and skylights.

When outdoor infestations, this ant likes to nest in moist micro-environments, including under loose bark and rocks, in rotting tree stumps and branches, and in old termite colonies.

This species prefers to forage and feed at night and will invade homes in search of sweet water sources. Unlike other species of ants, white-footed ants do not share their food with other ants. Instead, the sterile workers in the colony lay eggs to serve as a food source for the larvae and the non-foraging adults.