ant diagram
There are more than 12,000 types of ants, or ant species, worldwide. Of the approximately 700 species of ants in North America, only 25 species are considered structural pests, which typically enter structures for food, water and/or shelter. These pest ants may vary in size and coloration. They can be as small as 1/32" to as large as 3/4" long. They can be a single color or multicolored with colors ranging from shades of yellow, red, brown and black. Ants, like all insects, have three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. The abdomen consists of two parts: the slender petiole at the front of the abdomen and the larger gaster at the end of the abdomen. Ants also have six legs and a pair of antennae.