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21 Fun Facts About Ants (That Won't Make You Want Them in Your Kitchen)
Ants are tiny, organized, hard-working and absolutely obsessed with the crumb under your toaster. Here are the facts that make them fascinating — outside.
Quick answer: Ants have no lungs or ears, follow invisible scent trails, can carry many times their own weight, and live in colonies run by a queen who can live for years. The ones in your kitchen are scouts that found food — and told everybody.
The fun facts
- They have no lungs. Ants breathe through tiny holes along their bodies called spiracles.
- They have no ears either. They “hear” by feeling vibrations through their legs. So yes, stomping works on their nerves.
- They are absurdly strong. Many ants can carry several times their own body weight — some species far more. Your groceries could never.
- They talk with smell. Ants leave chemical (pheromone) trails. One scout finds your jelly, lays a trail home, and the whole colony RSVPs.
- That line in your kitchen is a highway. Wiping the trail with soapy water erases the “map” for a while.
- There are more than 12,000 known ant species. New Jersey only has a handful that bother homes: pavement, odorous house, carpenter and acrobat ants.
- Odorous house ants smell like rotten coconut. Squish one and sniff. Or don’t. We’ve done it for you.
- Carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They chew tunnels in damp wood to live in and push out “sawdust” called frass. Termites are the ones that eat it.
- Ant queens can live for years. Some queens of common species have lived more than 20 years in labs. Workers live weeks to months.
- All the workers are female. Males show up mainly to mate, then their job is done.
- Some ants farm. Ants “milk” aphids for sweet honeydew and protect them from predators — little livestock ranchers.
- Ants have been around since the dinosaurs. They survived the asteroid. Your vinegar spray is not going to scare them.
- Flying ants are not a different bug. They are winged kings and queens leaving to start new colonies. Indoors in late winter or spring, that can mean a nest inside.
- Ants clean house. Colonies have workers that carry out trash and dead ants to dump piles.
- They can swim and float. Some species link together to survive floods.
- Rain sends them inside. Heavy rain floods nests, so ants move up and in — often right into your kitchen.
- They love sugar AND grease. Some ants switch between sweet and protein foods depending on what the colony needs.
- Killing the ones you see barely matters. Most of the colony never leaves the nest. That’s why slow baits beat sprays.
- Ant colonies can have multiple queens. Pavement and odorous house ants often do, which is why they bounce back.
- Ants follow the sun. Some species use the sun’s position to navigate home.
- Ants work in shifts. Not every ant is busy — a colony always keeps some in reserve. Relatable.
Fact or myth?
| Claim | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Ants in the house mean your house is dirty | Myth. Spotless homes get ants too — water, a tiny crumb or a pet bowl is enough. |
| Vinegar gets rid of ants | Half true. It erases trails and kills the ones it hits, not the colony. See does vinegar kill ants? |
| Big black ants in the house are harmless | Not always. Big black ants inside can be carpenter ants — see carpenter ants vs. termites. |
When the facts stop being fun
A few ants for a day is normal. Trails that come back every day, ants in winter, or large black ants indoors mean a nest is close — or inside. Read why you suddenly have ants in your house.
Watch: Silver Bullet ant control
Ants running the kitchen? Silver Bullet Pest Control handles ant control, including carpenter ants, across Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties. Call 973-510-2585, text us, or request a free quote.
What to look for
More about ants
- Why Are There Ants in My House All of a Sudden??
- Does Vinegar Kill Ants??
- Carpenter Ants vs. Termites: How to Tell Who's Eating Your House
- All pest questions, answered
Fun facts about other pests
- 20 Fun Facts About Squirrels
- 20 Fun Facts About Bees and Wasps
- 20 Fun Facts About Mice
- 18 Fun Facts About Rats
- 18 Fun Facts About Cockroaches
- Waterbug vs. Cockroach: Fun Facts
Common questions
How strong are ants?
Many ants can carry several times their own body weight, and some species can lift far more.
Do ants have lungs?
No. They breathe through small openings on their bodies called spiracles.
How long do ants live?
Workers live weeks to months. Queens of some species can live for many years.
What ants are common in New Jersey homes?
Pavement ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants and acrobat ants.
Schedule today
Call 973-510-2585, text us or request a free quote online. Silver Bullet Pest Control is licensed and insured in New Jersey.