An ant infestation is always a potential problem for any homeowner. Even if they are harmless and docile insects, the fact that they invade the house is still an irritating fact. When a house is "occupied" by these annoying guests, it means that a colony has settled in or around the house. However, remember that the colony does not survive without the presence of the queen, as it is the only specimen responsible for reproduction. Without the queen, the entire colony is unable to sustain itself. If you want to exterminate the ants, you need to tackle the root of the problem and learn to distinguish the queen ant from the others.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Examining the Ant's Appearance
Step 1. Check the dimensions
In many species, the queen is much larger than worker ants. If you come across this unusually large-looking insect, it is very likely that it is the queen.
- This will be visibly much larger than the other ants present or the ones you have seen.
- Also consider the type of ants that are infesting the house. In the case of leaf cutter ants, the queen is almost certainly larger than the worker ants. However, fire ants, carpenters and workers themselves can be of different sizes. In this case, it may be more difficult to distinguish the queen based solely on size.
Step 2. Check if the ant has wings
In many colonies, the queen is born with wings; during most of his adult life he will have to fly to find new colonies and be able to mate. If you have spotted this winged insect, you have a high chance that it is the queen.
Some males also have wings, but they tend to be a little less visible. Winged males generally have a thinner, wasp-like body, different from that of the queen, which is usually thicker
Step 3. Check if the ant has lost its wings
This is a typical feature of queens, which always occurs at a certain stage in their life. If you approach the insect and look closely at the central part of its body, you may notice small bumps protruding from both sides. These are the attachment points of the wings and indicate that the insect previously had them. Since this is a characteristic of the queen, if you see a specimen with the attachment points of the wings it means that you are in front of the "mother" of the whole colony.
Step 4. Examine the chest
It is the part of the body that joins the neck to the abdomen. That of the queen is generally larger and more voluminous than that of the workers.
- Since this part of the body has had to support the wings, it must be much stronger and more muscular than that of the worker ants.
- The queen's chest represents more than half of her entire body; therefore you cannot fail to notice it and distinguish it from that of other normal ants.
Part 2 of 2: Evaluating Other Factors
Step 1. Consider where you found the insect
If you can't spot the queen by her appearance alone, you need to think about where you saw her. Remember that these specimens tend to place themselves in the center of the nest; they prefer wetlands, which are often found in rotten wood. If you notice an ant hiding in a humid area inside or outside your home, especially if it's damp wood, there's a good chance it's a queen.
Step 2. Determine if you have a marabunta ant invasion
In most species the queen is larger, has a more prominent thorax and is easily recognizable among others. However, this species of ants is an exception: the marabunta queen has a smaller thorax, very similar to that of the workers, and therefore it may be impossible to identify it. This insect species has a more oval shape than other ants; it has antennae on its head and the mouth has a scissors-like appearance.
Step 3. Contact a specialist
If you can't find the queen, see a professional exterminator. Ant infestation could create a serious problem in your home. If you are unable to locate the queen on your own or identify the ant species, search the yellow pages for a company that specializes in this type of work.
