Large Yellow Ant Identification
Resources to help you identify large yellow ants found in Nebraska .
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Large Yellow Ant (Also Called a "Citronella Ant" or "Foundation Ant") Identification (One Node Ant)
Large Yellow Ant (Acanthomyops interjectus)
Acanthomyops interjectus
Description of Workers: Medium-sized workers, 1/4-inch (7mm). Easily recognized by their yellow-orange color. The ants smell like citronella or "lemon-like" when crushed.
Habits:
The Large yellow ant is a soil nesting ant. They construct nests in soil under logs, rocks, patio blocks, porches, concrete patios and more. These ants may also be found in open areas of soil. The ants often excavate large amounts of soil as they build their galleries. If the colony is under a concrete slab of a structure, the soil may continue to pile up. These ants swarm nearly any time of the year and swarming may occur inside buildings when colonies are located next to or under the structure.
Management:
Management involves locating and treating colonies. The type of treatment depends on colony location. If the colony is under a cement slab, it may be necessary to drill through the slab and inject insecticide into the soil. It would be best to hire a pest control professional who has experience with termite treatments for this type of treatment. If the colony is in the soil, drench the colony with diluted insecticide, labeled for this purpose. Baits are not effective for this ant. For ants swarming indoors, use a vacuum.
View Large Yellow Ant Photos - UNL Department of Entomology
The information on this Web site is valid for residents of southeastern Nebraska. It may or may not apply in your area. If you live outside southeastern Nebraska, visit your local Extension office
Credits:
- Ant illustrations were developed by Vicki Jedlicka, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County
For information on reproducing this resource or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement)
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