Amazing ants of Western North Carolina

Published 1:54 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Ants are some of the smallest creatures in the world, but they are also some of the busiest! In Western North Carolina, you can find lots of different kinds of ants living in forests, fields, and even in your backyard. I know I date myself, but how many of you had an ant farm growing up? I could watch it for hours, not realizing how stressful it was for the poor ants.

These tiny insects may be small, but they play a big role in nature and have some pretty amazing abilities. Let’s explore some fun and surprising facts about ants that live right here in our region.

First, did you know that ants are super strong? Even though they are tiny, ants can carry things that are 10 to 50 times their own weight. That’s like a sixth grader lifting a car! This strength helps them bring food back to their nests to feed the colony. You might see ants carrying crumbs, leaves, or even other bugs. It’s a team effort, and they don’t give up easily.

Western North Carolina is home to several kinds of ants, including carpenter ants, pavement ants, and field ants. One of the most interesting types is the carpenter ant. While these ants don’t eat wood, they do chew through it to build their nests. If you find sawdust near a wooden structure, carpenter ants might be nearby. They like to live in damp, rotting wood, which is easy for them to dig through.

Another neat fact about ants is how well they work together, living in groups called colonies. A colony can have thousands or even millions of ants! Each ant has a special job. Some ants are workers. They collect food, take care of the babies, and build the nest. Others are soldiers. They protect the colony from danger. Every colony also has a queen ant. The queen’s job is to lay eggs so the colony can grow.

As amazing communicators, they don’t talk like humans but use smells to send messages. By leaving scent trails called pheromones, they help other ants find food. If one ant finds a tasty snack, it will leave a trail for the others to follow. That’s why you often see ants walking in a straight line. They are following the smell!

Another cool thing about ants is how they help the environment. Ants dig tunnels that mix up the soil. This helps our plants grow better. They also clean up nature by eating dead insects and leftover food. Some ants even help spread seeds for new plants. Without ants, our forests and gardens wouldn’t be as healthy.

Our mountains and forests are perfect places for ants to live. With relatively mild weather and lots of forests, ants have tons of places to build their homes and find food. Just remember to look, but don’t touch. Some ants bite or sting, especially non-native fire ants, which are just moving into Polk County. 

At Champions for Wildlife, we love helping children discover the fascinating role ants play in the natural world. They learn that, though small, ants have a big impact, especially when it comes to seed dispersal for native plants like violets and trillium. These hardworking insects are excellent team players and contribute to the health of ecosystems by supporting both plant and animal life. Through our lessons, kids learn to appreciate even the tiniest creatures and how interconnected nature truly is.

Next time you see an ant, take a closer look. You might notice how fast they move, the way they carry things, or how they work with other ants. Be curious, as there’s a lot to learn from these little creatures. Ants show us that even the smallest animals can make a big difference!

Ants are super strong and can lift things up to 50 times their weight!

Loti Woods is co-founder of Champions for Wildlife, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and empower our kids, using art and education, to be champions for wildlife. To learn more, visit championsforwildlife.org or email loti@championsforwildlife.org.