The name field ant is used for a large group of ants commonly found nesting in fields, meadows and lawns in Iowa.
Field ants are probably our most commonly observed kind of ant.
Field ants nest in the soil in moderately large colonies. They are scavengers and feed on other insects and nectar from flowers. Field ants do not normally nest indoors but the workers frequently forage indoors for food and create an annoyance by their presence. Field ants are commonly noticed during their swarming flights in the fall of the year. Large numbers of yellowish-brown, winged ants emerge from an underground colony and crawl around on the ground, trees, shrubs or buildings near the nest entrance before flying off to attempt to establish new colonies.