Pyramid Ants

Dorymyrmex spp.

pyramid ant

Pyramid ant (Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Navajonature.org)

pyramid ant

Pyramid ants (Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org)

pyramid ant

Pyramid ant mound (John Pearson, Bugguide.net)

Identification

  • small; 1/8 inch long
  • workers of one size
  • single node (bump between middle and rear body sections)
  • color ranging from yellow, brown, to black
  • have a pyramid-shaped projection on top of the thorax

Nesting Habits

  • prefer open, sunny areas; soil nesting
  • distinctive nest entrance consists of a hole surrounded by a mound of excavated soil
  • nests not located indoors
  • nests are typically small and shallow

Diet

  • live and dead insects
  • honeydew produced by aphids and other insects
  • feed on a variety of foods, but prefer sweets

Significance

  • occasionally invade buildings in search of food or moisture
  • can bite
  • can have unsightly mounds

IPM Recommendations

  • If ants are found indoors, follow them back to the outside foundation wall to determine the entry point.
  • Seal cracks and crevices to exclude foraging worker ants.
  • Use sweet ant baits.
  • If the nest can be located, directly drench with an appropriately labeled insecticide.

Additional Resources

IPM for Ants: Integrated Pest Management in Sensitive Environments (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)