Ants

Identification: If the information on these pages does not afford you a satisfactory or confident ID determination, don’t hesitate to make use of our Insect Diagnostic Lab.  You can either send us a specimen, or upload a good (clear), closeup photo (or photos) for us using our Photo Submission Form.  Depending on the particular ant in question, sometimes a really good photo is adequate.  But when a photo is not sufficient by itself, our Submitting Specimens page will guide you through the process of submitting your specimens to our lab for identification.

People in Maine often mistake winged ants–especially if they are swarming–with winged termites. Due to our generally long and cold winters, however, termites have been quite rare in Maine, with only isolated cases that show up from time to time in some areas (primarily southern and coastal areas).  Mississippi State Univ. Extension has a fact sheet with a helpful illustration that explains nicely the difference between the overall body design of a termite versus an ant: How to Distinguish Termites from Ants.  Another resource about flying ants that is worth checking out is this UK Natural History Museum feature: Flying ant day: when winged ants take their nuptial flight

Although it is true that many ants are pests and/or a nuisance from a human perspective, ants are also beneficial in many ways, as discussed in the following two publications: Ants in Lawns [pdf] (UMass Extension) and Ants in Lawns (Iowa State University)


Photos of Some Ants that are found in Maine:

Additional Photos and Information:

Additional Ant Possibilities for Maine:

(but these are generally not encountered that often by most people in Maine):