Tunneling pests

Editorially verified for the Aug 21, 2026

54 Down

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Ants excavating tunnels in soil near an underground nest

Clue explained

ANTS are common tunneling pests because colonies excavate networks of underground passageways and chambers. The plural form matches the clue’s reference to pests.

Clue type:
Definition

LA Times Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 21, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Tunneling pests” in the LA Times crossword is ANTS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 21, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 54-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Tunneling pests” answer

ANTS (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is ANTS.

What does ANTS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ANTS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a small insect typically having a sting and living in a complex social colony with one or more breeding queens. It is wingless except for fertile adults, which form large mating swarms, and is proverbial for its industriousness

When else has “Tunneling pests” appeared?

LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 21, 2026 (most recent) → ANTS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Tunneling pests”?

The answer is ANTS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Tunneling pests”?

4 letters: ANTS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 21, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 54-Down.

Can “Tunneling pests” have a different answer?

Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?

The full grid for August 21, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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