What kind of ants are these and should we be worried?

We noticed them for the first time a few days ago first on the floor near our fridge, then moving to the adjacent hallway, and now (after a couple of days), just saw several further away near our front door (after we thought it was an isolated outbreak we'd successfully treated). It's hard to tell scale from the photo but they're at present quite small in size. How worried should we be, and any suggestions as to what to do ( besides the obvious laying down ant traps and gel that we've already done, etc.)? Thanks in advance!

Photo is not clear so damn if I know but a call to an exterminator or a trip to the library should answer your question. The most important is if they are termites.

Termites avoid daylight so you're safe in that regard.

Termites swarm in large numbers and the only ones you would see are those which are called winged reproductives. Easy to spot because their wings are quite long, longer than their bodies. Also they drop them quickly leaving them behind as evidence of who they are.

Based on their very small size they are probably pavement ants.........annoying but harmless. Pick up Combat discs at any Supermarket or Home Depot. Follow directions and place them in various spots. Avoid temptation to step on them as it prevents the product from working properly. Should disappear in less than a week. If not, call Buckinghm from Maplewood. Old school but one of the best.

Regular little black ants. Agree with @author. One thing I like to try is to determine where they are coming into the and to try to track them back to their nest.

If I am right about the pests being pavement ants the Combat solution should take care of the nest as they carry the active ingredient back to the nesting area. It is possible but improbably that the pests are what is called Pharoah ants. But one step at a time

In addition to the above advice, try watching them for a few minutes. Their movement pattern might become evident. They may be all marching to a single source of food that went unnoticed, i.e. a spill where you don't always clean.

I haven't tried this myself, but if you find where they're coming into the house, drop a bunch of cinnamon or cinnamon oil in their path. They apparently don't like the smell and the texture of the fine powder. (If you do try it, please report back - I want to know if it works....)

Along the line of natural repellents..............mint is also mentioned. I tried placing mint tea bags at various spots around my front room. The mice were then demanding bigger cups to brew the mint tea.

Back to the tried and true methods

powdered chalk, boric acid...

We've had them come in from something like one little leaf of a shrub that was touching the house. Just like that...

Like many pests they are opportunists. Mammals like mice seek out warmth in the winter and always food.

Once during a drought, I was servicing a house in Summit. Large ants were coming out of her faucet. This just should not happen. I called my office for advice. My boss, a real old timer explained they were drinking the few drops of water that always remain in a faucet

Trim shrubbery back from the house. Never ever stack firewood against the house or even too near

Never leave crumbs lying around and if you experience an infestation of any kind even dog and cat food should not be left out over night

if you can determine where their nest is outside, I've always found boiling a large pot of water and dousing the area usually took care of the problem.

Yearly in the month of May, only in one room, I get really small ants. Tons of them. I've tried Combat and although it helped, I had to repeatedly purchase more of them. A couple of weeks ago, I found Terro Liquid Ant Bait at Home Depot and my goodness, what a difference. Within seconds, I could see them going inside the trap in droves. It was amazing and disgusting, but more amazing.