Ants in Western Washington Urban vs. Rural Environments

Author: Kurt Treftz, Cascade Pest Control

Here’s a glimpse of some common ant species and their environmental preferences.

Common Ant Species in Western Washington

Odorous House Ants

Urban / Rural

As their name implies, there is a distinct ‘stinky’ smell emitted when odorous ants are crushed. These ants are happy to make their homes in human structures and/or commercial buildings. They are highly adaptable and can build large supercolonies under buildings. Odorous ants (also called sugar ants) are attracted to sweet foods, which puts them in conflict with humans as they enter homes to feed, especially in our food pantries. These active insects follow established trails, often traveling in a single file line. They can infest homes quickly as they are active day and night. These tiny invaders are indeed nuisance pests for homeowners.

Carpenter Ants

Rural / Urban

These large ants are one of the more destructive species in Seattle. In rural areas, carpenter ants are attracted to decaying trees, stumps, and logs which are moist. However, carpenter ants can also make their way into commercial buildings where they can cause much damage, especially to damp wood. If you have a water leak, you might attract these invasive, destructive critters. 

Pavement Ants

Urban / Rural

This common building and house-infesting ant is the quintessential ant – small, black, builds mounds, and leaves trails. You will often find their cone-shaped anthills near sidewalks, driveways, and in pavement cracks – which lend them their name. Pavement ants will consume sweet food like honeydew or plant sap (in the wild), but they are voracious eaters and will be attracted to your home for meat, greasy foods, other insects, and sweet treats as well.

Thatching Ant

Rural

These ants are primarily outdoor pests, so they aren’t as likely to make their way into urban areas or buildings. This larger-than-typical ant is usually red or black in color with powerful jaws. They like to build mounds from yard / natural debris like sticks, grass stems, and pine needles which resemble a thatched roof. Thatching ants forage out from their mound to search for food and thatching material. Thatching ants can be helpful in soil aeration and preying on other insect pests. However, they can deliver a painful bite and create unsightly mounds in your yard.

Pharoah Ants

Urban

Another typical ant species found in Western Washington is the Pharaoh ant. These ants thrive in more populated areas like cities, benefiting from human habitation. They appreciate the climate control atmosphere of buildings and make their nests in wall voids and sheltered spaces. Pharoah ants, in particular, have become a noted problem in commercial spaces like bakeries, factories, office buildings, hospitals, and homes. 

Argentine Ants

Rural / Urban

As an invasive species, Argentine ants have found a foothold in both urban and rural settings in Western Washington. They like to nest in moist areas like underneath logs, wood, or debris; however, they also build nests under sidewalks, boards, and stones. This aggressive ant species has been known to disrupt native ants and pollinators.  

Moisture Ants

Rural / Urban

As their name implies, moisture ants thrive in damp environments. Seattle, Washington  averages around 37 to 39 inches of rainfall per year making it prone to pests like moisture ants. They like to make their homes in wet soil or rotting wood when out in natural habitats. If moisture ants invade homes, they are likely to be a harbinger of a bigger problem, like a leak or an overly damp area. They can build tunnels between the ground and wood of homes. Moisture ants don’t destroy wood like carpenter ants or termites so they are more of a nuisance than an aggressive, structure damaging threat.

European Fire Ants

Rural / Urban

Another invasive species that has been gaining a foothold in the Pacific Northwest region, European Fire Ants are an aggressive species. They deliver a painful “bite” or sting and will swarm to protect their nest. They are known to build large colonies and disperse native ant species. They also thrive on urban cover and human interaction. European Fire Ants will build in damp areas along stones & bricks or in rotting vegetation & yard waste. They prefer shaded spots with plenty of camouflage.

Urban vs Rural Environments

Urban Environments

Ants that thrive in urban environments are often generalist ant species good at adapting to human-impacted environments. Pavement, Odorous House, European Fire Ants, and Pharoah ants (and, to a lesser extent, Carpenter and Argentine ants) have found environments modified by humans to be of great benefit. Easy access to food sources and sheltered and climate-controlled living spaces make urban areas very inviting for these pests. 

Rural Environments

Thatching, Carpenter, and Argentine ants prefer natural habitats for more rural areas. This environment offers more access to trees, stumps, and other natural wood sources that meet their needs. There is ample opportunity for decaying wood to provide shelter and food for these ant species.

Ecological Impact 

Urbanization

The concentration of humans in urban centers can alter the ecological balance by creating more favorable conditions for some ant species over others. Some thrive in these packed urban conditions, while others decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Rural

Ants in rural settings play an important role in the ecosystem. They control unwanted pests and contribute to nutrient cycling. However, some invasive species have been introduced that could drive out native ant species. 

Ants in Seattle and the Western Washington region have adapted well to both urban and rural settings. Knowing a bit about why and how they thrive can help pest control experts get a handle on any infestations you face, whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or the country. 

Cascade Pest Control has the expertise to help with any ant infestation. Call 888-989-8979 today!