List of ants of Kansas facts for kids

Pheidole pilifera minor and major workers. They are different sizes!

Did you know that over 100 different kinds of ants live in the state of Kansas? These tiny insects are super important to the environment. They can be found almost everywhere, from your backyard to wild fields.

Ants of Kansas: A Closer Look

Kansas is home to many types of ants. Some build big mounds that you can easily spot. These include ants like Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, often called western harvester ants, and several Formica species. Some ants even have wings!

Tough Ants: Dolichoderinae

Ants from the group called Dolichoderinae are often found in Kansas. These ants are very tough. They are some of the only ants that can handle Kansas's really hot summers and cold winters. They are true survivors!

Shy Ants: Dorylinae

You might not often see ants from the Dorylinae group. This is because they don't like direct sunlight. They prefer to stay hidden underground or in shady spots. Neivamyrmex nigrescens and Neivamyrmex opacithorax are two of the more common ones you might find, even if they are hard to spot.

Super Common Ants: Myrmicinae

The Myrmicinae group has some of the most common ants in Kansas. Two types you'll often see are Crematogaster punctulata and Monomorium minimum. Many other ants in this group also live in Kansas, but they might not be as easy to find.

Widespread Ants: Ponerinae

Only one ant from the Ponerinae group is found all over Kansas: Hypoponera opacior. Another ant, Ponera pennsylvanica, is also common in many parts of the state, even if it's not everywhere.

Second Most Common: Formicinae

After the Myrmicinae ants, the Formicinae group is the second most common in Kansas. Ants from the Camponotus genus, known as carpenter ants, and the Formica genus are the ones you'll most likely see from this group.

Kansas Ants as Pests

Sometimes, ants can become a problem, especially when they get into our homes. These are often called "pest" ants. Some common pest ants in Kansas include red imported fire ants, acrobat ants, big-headed ants, and carpenter ants. Other pest ants are cornfield ants, harvester ants, larger yellow ants, little black ants, mound ants, spinewaisted ants, and thief ants. These ants are good at surviving Kansas's milder winters, which helps them thrive.