ABSTRACT
Ants are found in virtually every square meter of land from the tropics to the subartic. They have successfully invaded natural, agricultural and urban environments. The majority of ants in tropical or temperate regions build nests below ground, either in small mounds of soil or beneath stones or within decayed wood. The majority of ants that have been successful in making the transition to the urban environment are ground nesting and have adapted to the soil type and vegetation characteristic of this environment. Carpenter ants are very adept at incorporating houses or other urban dwellings that are close to forested areas into a system of satellite nests. The pest status of ants is based only on their foraging for food indoors, but in certain situations they may pose a health risk. The pest status of fire ants in the urban environment is based in large part on threat of painful stinging and the potential hyperallergic reaction to fire ant venom.
