Ants love warm kitchens and pantries because they are full of food and water. While all ants are small, the tiny red ones are probably either pharaoh or thief ants. For positive identification, catch a few ants, place them in a sealed plastic bag, and take them to an extension office for identification.
Description
Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) originated in Africa. They are 1/16 to 3/32 inch long, and may be light yellow or red with a darker colored abdomen (thorax). They also have a 12-segmented antenna that ends in a three-segmented club. They are commonly found in warmer climates and will only be found indoors in northern areas. Do not spray these ants because it causes colonies to "bud" or form new nests around a home.
Thief Ants
Thief ants (Solenopsis molesta) are 1/32 to 1/16 inch long--small enough to get in food containers that can keep other ants out. It is usually described as more yellowish or light brown, but at its size, it may appear red. Thief ants are often confused with pharaoh ants. The major differences are in the antennae and thorax. Thief ants have a 10-segmented antenna that ends in a two-segmented club. Although spraying thief ants does not cause budding as it does with pharaoh ants, it only kills a few ants and will not affect the colony.
Similar Ants
Bicolored trailing and little fire ants are very similar in size and color to the pharaoh ants, but they are only found in warm climates like south Florida. Acrobat, big headed, field, imported fire, larger yellow, pavement and pyramid ants can also be red or reddish brown, but they are twice the size of pharaoh and thief ants. They average about 1/8 inch long.
Control
The nests of pharaoh and thief ants are difficult to find, so they are better controlled with bait stations. If you are unsure which species you have, use both types of bait. Pharaoh ants are attracted to sweet or grease baits, but the best choice is bait that uses hydramethylnon. For thief ants, use bait designed for grease-eating ants. For homemade bait, mix 4 tbsp. peanut butter, 6 tbsp. honey and 3/4 tsp. of boric acid. Place a small amount of bait on index cards in areas where ants have been seen. Keep the bait away from children and pets. It may take three to four weeks for the bait to kill the entire colony.
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