Jeffrey Weier, jweier@spraguepest.com and Robert Andrews, Bobby@spraguepest.com. Sprague Pest Solutions, PO Box 2222, Tacoma, WA
Ants have become a significant issue in the structural pest control industry. Information regarding the ranges and abundance of these insects is not always well documented. We had our service technicians collect ants samples from in and around structures that Sprague Pest Solutions services (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Northeast Nevada). These samples were identified and the identification linked to the address where they were collected. This information was then entered into a Geographical Information System (GIS) (ArcView) and occurrence maps were created that grouped samples by zip code. Relative abundance was reported by the number of times each species was collected in each county. Although the collection methods may be biased, the information will provide the beginnings of a database for ant occurrence in this geographic region which will provide direction for education and research efforts.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Formicidae
Camponotus modoc (Carpenter ant)
Species 2: Hymenoptera Formicidae
Tapinoma sessile (Odorous house ant)
Species 3: Hymenoptera Formicidae
Tetramorium caespitum (Pavement ant)
Keywords: species distribution