Identifying characteristics

• Workers are polymorphic (different sizes), small, 1/16- to 1/5-inch long
• Body reddish with shiny dark brown gaster with stinger
• Large eyes and 3 teeth on front of head
• Petiole with 2 nodes; no spines on thorax
• 10-segmented antennae with 2-segmented club
• Extremely aggressive

Behavior

• Feed on living insects, dead animals, and honeydew from honeydew-producing insects
• In homes, forage on sweet foods, proteins, and fats
• Extremely aggressive; if disturbed, will swarm out of nests and attack in large numbers; can inflict a very painful sting
• Travel in distinct trails along foundations, sidewalks, patios, up sides of buildings, along baseboards, and under edges of carpets
• Colonies may split and move to new locations

Nest type and size

• Nest in mounds with multiple openings in soil or lawns, usually in open sunny areas near a water source
• If undisturbed, mounds may reach up to 18 inches high and 24 inches wide; they become dome-shaped after 2-3 years
• Nests sometimes found in buildings, wall voids, crawl spaces, or under carpets
• Large colonies of up to 500,000 workers with multiple queens