What Are Twig Ants?

Need to get rid of twig ants? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Are Twig Ants?

The elongated twig ant is a large, thin species of ant that is native to Mexico and dry parts of the United States. Twig ants are often found on wood fencing, plants, shrubs, and trees. Twig ants live in small nests in hollow twigs or high up in bigger trees.

What Do Twig Ants Look Like?

Twig ant workers range anywhere from 7 to 12 millimeters in length and look like wasps without wings. Worker twig ants have dark heads and gasters, but their antennae, mouthparts, thorax and legs are a dull orange with dark shading. Adult twig ants have large eyes, a two-segmented petiole, and a well-developed sting. Worker larvae are around 6 millimeters long, slim, and covered with short hairs. Larvae are fed by worker adults. 

What Do Twig Ants Eat?

Twig ants eat live insects and collect honeydew from sapsucking insects. They are also known to eat fungus spores.

Are Twig Ants Dangerous?

Twig ants can sting and for some, their sting is very powerful, much like the sting of a wasp. Twig ants are prone to falling from their nests in high trees onto people below them and then feel threatened and sting. They also have a tendency to get trapped under your clothes and will sting when they feel trapped. Twig ant stings can produce large, itchy, swollen areas around the sting that can get up to as large as 3 inches across. 

Other than their sting, twig ants do not cause any ornamental or structural damage, despite being found regularly nesting in wooden doors inside homes.

Help With Twig Ants In Your Home

If you are concerned about twig ants in your home, please give us a call or fill out the form on this page. PestControlExperts.com is a team of experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your home, no matter which part of the United States you live in.