Groundhog Day rolls around as we head into February, bringing with it a beloved tradition focused on a cute little critter popping out of its burrow to predict how much winter we have left. While most of us enjoy watching Punxsutawney Phil search for his shadow every February 2nd, there are other underground dwellers that aren’t nearly as charming. Some pests that live below the surface can signal far bigger problems than six more weeks of cold weather if they start showing up around your home. One such pest is the rover ant—an invasive ant species that’s still fairly new to the U.S., but has already proven it knows how to make itself noticed.
What do Rover Ants Look Like?
Rover ants are an especially tiny species, with worker ants measuring just about 1/16 of an inch long—roughly half the length of a sesame seed. The workers are monomorphic, meaning they’re all similar in size, although their coloration can vary widely from pale yellow to dark brown or even black. Another distinguishing feature is their relatively simple antennae, which have only nine segments and lack the club seen on many other ant species. Their thorax is also uneven, with the front portion rising into a noticeable hump, giving it a camel-like appearance.
Winged rover ant reproductives are nearly twice the size of the workers and are about the same size as a termite swarmer. To make matters more confusing, rover ants and termites often favor similar environments when establishing their colonies. Because of this overlap, it’s crucial to understand the differences between ants and termites so you’re not left feeling stressed every time a winged insect shows up indoors. We cover this in more detail in articles like “Termites vs. Carpenter Ants” and “Termite 101.” And if you spot winged pests around your home, don’t wait—call The Bug Dude at 800-310-BUGS (2847) for a professional identification and prompt treatment before the issue escalates, no matter which pest you’re dealing with.
Where do Rover Ants Live?
Rover ants can be found both inside and outside the home, with a strong preference for urban environments where moisture and sugary food sources are easy to come by. Outdoors, their colonies often set up in damp soil, mulch, leaf litter, and trash piles, and they’ve even been known to nest beneath a home’s concrete slab. Indoors, rover ants are most commonly spotted in kitchens and bathrooms, but their nests may be hidden in water-damaged wood, cinder blocks, potted plants, electrical outlets, light fixtures, or tucked away inside wall voids.
An individual rover ant colony is relatively small, typically made up of a few hundred to a few thousand ants. That said, if conditions are favorable, multiple colonies can exist in the same home or yard at the same time. This is a big reason rover ants have earned a reputation for being especially difficult to control—eliminating the problem often means locating and treating several colonies, not just one. The good news is that the experienced technicians at TheBugDude.com are well-versed in dealing with rover ant infestations and use proven methods to quickly and effectively eliminate these pests from your home.
Within the United States, rover ants are predominantly found in the Gulf states, though their reach into the rest of the contiguous states is constantly expanding. These tiny ants have a distinct advantage in their spread in that they can successfully live in close proximity to other ants, including fire ants, tawny crazy ants, and Argentine ants. They even have a protection against fire ant venom: they can blanket themselves in a protective layer of formic acid.
What do Rover Ants Eat?
In the U.S., rover ants are most commonly found throughout the Gulf states, but their range continues to expand into other parts of the contiguous United States. One reason these ants spread so effectively is their ability to live near—and even alongside—other aggressive ant species such as fire ants, tawny crazy ants, and Argentine ants. They’re even equipped with a defense against fire ant venom, as rover ants can coat themselves in a protective layer of formic acid, giving them a unique survival advantage.
Are Rover Ants Dangerous?
Thankfully, rover ants are mostly harmless, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be incredibly annoying once they make their way into a home or workplace. They don’t sting or bite, posing no direct threat to people or pets, and unlike carpenter ants, they don’t damage wood or compromise structures. The real problem comes from their tendency to form multiple colonies, which makes them notoriously hard to eliminate. Once they gain a foothold indoors, rover ants can linger for a long time without professional intervention—making a call to The Bug Dude at 817-354-5350 a smart move sooner rather than later. Outdoors, they can be just as frustrating, especially around water. Their attraction to moisture often leads them into swimming pools, turning what should be a relaxing summer swim into extra time spent skimming and cleaning instead.
While the risk is not considered extreme, rover ants can pose a health concern if they invade sterile environments or healthcare settings. Like many ants, they are capable of carrying and spreading certain types of bacteria, including E. coli, which makes their presence in medical or sensitive facilities especially problematic and something that should be addressed quickly.
How do you Prevent Rover Ants?
Effective rover ant prevention requires a two-pronged approach: removing excess moisture and cutting off access to food sources. Taking both steps together gives you the best chance of keeping these pests at bay. Here are several practical ways to reduce your risk of an infestation:
- Avoid DIY treatments. At the first sign of rover ants, call The Bug Dude at 800-310-BUGS (2847) so trained professionals can apply the proper products. Over-the-counter treatments are often ineffective and may even reduce the success of professional control.
- Replace any water-damaged wood in or around your home.
- Remove yard debris such as leaf litter, mulch buildup, and grass clippings.
- Repair known plumbing leaks and thoroughly dry any affected areas.
- Watch for aphid or scale infestations on plants and have them treated promptly.
- Trim trees and shrubs so they don’t touch your roof or exterior walls.
- Keep gutters clean and free-flowing.
- Maintain a clean kitchen and limit access to sweets by storing fruit in the refrigerator and keeping sugary foods covered.
- Enroll in a regular pest control service plan with The Bug Dude to help keep your home consistently pest-free.
How do you Eliminate Rover Ants?
Rover ants have earned a reputation for being especially challenging to control over the long term. If you’re dealing with an ant problem and suspect these tiny invaders may be the cause, call The Bug Dude at 817-354-5350. Our knowledgeable technicians can accurately identify the ant species in your home and, even when it comes to stubborn rover ants, apply the most effective treatment strategy to eliminate the issue—so you can get back to life as usual, whether winter sticks around for six more weeks or not.
Further Reading:
“[Pest Profile] Rover Ant” – PCT Magazine
“Rover Ant, Brachymyrmex sp.” – Chris Keefer – Urban and Structural Entomology Program at Texas A&M University
“How to Get Rid of Rover Ants” – ants.com
“The Dark Rover Ant and Other Rover Ants” – Michael Merchant – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
