ABSTRACT
The 600 native species of ants in North America (north of Mexico) are very important parts of the ecosystem. Ants attracted scant attention from the general public until the introduction of the Argentine ant around the turn of the century. But it was the invasion of imported fire ants in the 1920’s and their damage to agriculture and public health, which sharply increased the impact of pest ants on the United States. Smith (1965) cataloged eastern United States house ants, listing and discussing 49 species in 18 genera. Though long out of print, this book is still the best single reference on United States pest ants, with excellent drawings of many species.
