Liometopum Occidentale ants are more commonly referred to as velvety tree ants, named aptly for their velvety abdomen and their penchant for nesting in trees. These ants have been known to nest in oak, pine, cottonwood, and sycamore trees. In addition to trees, Liometopum Occidentale ants also build nests inside stumps or under large rocks. The colony, which can consist of 40-60,000 worker ants, usually exists in one location; with exceptions, these ants do create satellite nests. Velvety tree ants, which are omnivores, are most common in California but also exist in other western states.

How to Recognize Liometopum Occidentale Ants

Velvety tree ants can often be spotted climbing tree trunks as they ascend back to their nests. Sometimes mistaken for carpenter ants because of their size, velvety tree ants have some distinctions to help you recognize them.

• The length of a worker ant’s body is between 1/8 inch – ¼ inch.
• The abdomen is velvety and black, but the head is brown.
• The midsection is reddish in color.
• If the body is crushed, a foul odor is released.

Do Liometopum Occidentale ants pose a threat to homeowners?

Yes, velvety tree ants can be quite troublesome. These ants are aggressive and will bite. Venom is injected during the bite, which makes these bites painful (but treatable with over-the-counter after-bite cream). Once the ants migrate inside your house, they can build nests inside wall voids or in moist or rotting wood. Like carpenter ants, velvety tree ants mine wood.

What is the best way to prevent these ants from migrating indoors?

Prevention is key. Velvety tree ants often infiltrate a house via a branch or bush that is touching the house.

• Trim branches and bushes so that no part of the plant actually touches the house.
• Relocate mulch and fire wood piles so that they do not touch the house.

Treating an infestation for velvety tree ants can be particularly difficult due to their aggressive nature and their hard-to-reach nests. Contacting an ant control professional is your best bet to get a velvety tree ant problem under control.

Photo by Estella Ortega from www.AntWeb.org