Harvester Ant

Characteristics

• Workers are different sizes and the larger workers have disproportionally large heads
• Prefers to nest in sand, sandy soil, or gravel
• Harvesters are named for their habit of collecting seeds and storing the food for winter

The Florida harvester ant is the only harvester ant found in Alabama. Harvester ants have some of the most toxic venom of all insects. However the Florida harvester ant is not aggressive and rarely stings humans. They gather food, primarily seeds, and store them for times of scarcity such as winter and droughts. These colonies rarely enter homes but can take over entire yards. Colonies are long lived and can have over 20,000 individual ants. Please call a pest control professional if you discover these ants to learn about the best options.