Yellow Ants

Habits

Yellow ants are primarily nocturnal, so not much is known about their behavior. Swarms occur during June and July in the late afternoon of warm, humid, windless days.

Yellow ants feed almost exclusively on honeydew from underground insects. There is no record of them feeding on household foods.

Habitat

Yellow ant nests are often established near areas of high moisture. In homes, these ants can be found in damp wood, which is often located behind tub tile walls in a bathroom or in damp crawl spaces. Outside, nests are usually situated in soil adjacent to structures, along foundation walls or under rotten logs. Dirt mounds from the excavation of their tunnels can reach up to three feet in diameter.

Threats

The yellow ant does not have a stinger, but it can become a nuisance pest if a colony establishes itself within the home.