Ant alate (winged reproductive), with nearby ant pupae

Nests in soil, wood, wall voids, or other sheltered sites; the pictured individuals appear displaced from a colony.

Workers commonly eat sugars, nectar, honeydew, seeds, insects, and scavenged food. Larvae are fed by workers; pupae do not feed.

Colonial and highly social, with workers caring for brood and reproductives producing new colonies. Winged adults commonly swarm for mating, after which queens shed their wings and establish nests.

Most ants are harmless and beneficial predators, scavengers, soil mixers, and seed dispersers. Some species can sting or bite, contaminate food, or damage wood and structures; species-level identification is needed to assess risk.