Cornfield Ants

• Cornfield ants build visible, crater-like nests.
• Nest openings can be identified by the noticeable low mound of soil, several inches in diameter, in lawns and open areas.
• Cornfield ants will also nest under stones, bricks, and sidewalks, and in rotting logs and stumps.
• Cornfield ants rarely, if ever, nest inside structures and therefore are not considered house ants.
• Although nests are not located indoors, cornfield ants will sometimes forage in homes for sweet foods.

• Cornfield ants are light to dark brown
• Workers are about 1/10” – 1/8” in length
• Queens range 3/16” – 3/8” in length
• Their eyes are large relative to the head
• The workers’ thorax is uneven in profile and the petiole has only one node
• Cornfield ants give off an acidic odor when crushed

Not really. A cornfield ant bite may cause minor pain and itching, but the bite can be treated with basic over-the-counter medications to alleviate the pain and stop the itching.

• No, cornfield ants do not generally cause damage to homes or property.
• They do contribute to the damage to corn fields by transferring aphids to corn stalks.

Cornfield ants adapt well to urban environments and can be found in cities, parks, lawns, and gardens.

Because cornfield ants are generally found in bare spots and thin grass, a healthy, thick lawn can help to prevent cornfield ants from starting a nest in your yard.

• Cornfield ants feed primarily on sweets, including the honeydew of aphids.
• They will also feed dead insects

• Cornfield ants generally mate July through September.
• The swarming usually happens on hot, humid, sunny afternoons.
• The males die soon after mating.
• The newly fertilized queen flies off to start a new nest.
• Egg - Larva: 9-16 days
• Larva - Pupa: 9-13 days
• Pupa - Worker: 9-12 days