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Ants are social insects often forming colonies. Ants
are more frequent as a household pest than cockroaches in the US according
to the National Pest Management Association.
Some species of ants can be very hard to control, and require the
services of a professional pest manager.
Identification is the key to controlling ants. The segment between
the thorax an abdomen is called a pedical and has either one or two
segments called "nodes".
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Carpenter ants are vey large, have one
node and come in many varieties with different sizes and colors including
tan, red, and black. They are a nuisance by their presence when found
in parts of the home such as the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and
other areas of the house. Carpenter ants hollow out dead, moist wood
in trees, firewood, and fenceposts to build their nests but do not
eat wood. However, when removing quantities of wood to expand their
nest size, they sometimes cause structural damage. They build colonies
in wall voids, foam insulation, eaves, and crawlspaces. Found throughout
the U.S., they feed on insects and insect secretions during the summer,
but often invade structures in spring and fall looking for other food
sources, especially sweets. |
 Pharaoh
Cappenter Ants are a serious nuisance in hospitals, rest homes,
apartment dwellings, hotels, grocery stores, and food establishments.
They feed on jellies, honey, shortening, peanut butter, corn syrup,
fruit juices, soft drinks, grease, and dead insects. These ants are
capable of mechanically transmitting diseases, namely Staphylecoccus
and Psuedomonas infections in hospitals. The Pharaoh Ant is yellow
with a reddish abdomen, two nodes with a spineless thorax and a 12-segment
antennae and the antennal club composed of three segments.Typically
they build nests in wood, wall voids, baseboards, etc. Colonies are
quite large with many queens |
 The
Large Yellow/Citronella Ant derives its name because of the
citronella-like odor given off when the ant is crushed. Workers are
a reddish-brown color and are about 1/5 inch long and prefer to eat
sweets. Winged reproductives swarm in basements and around foundations
in early spring causing them to be mistaken for termites. Outdoor
nests are found in old logs, stumps, porches, patios, and under stones.
This ant may bring large piles of dirt to the surface of the ground
at the entrance to its nest, either indoors or outdoors. Aside from
the debris created, this ant causes no harm. |
 Pavement
ants are one of the most common tiny house-invading ants with
nests usually found outdoors under stones, in pavement cracks, along
curb edges, in crevices of masonry and woodwork. They are all one
small size, with two nodes, dark brown, with small stingers. They
are found in the eastern U.S., particularly in New England. They nest
along sidewalks and foundations of buildings, near firewood, stones,
brick, mulch, etc. They forage in trails from outside colonies to
indoor food sources far from nests. They feed on dead insects, greasy
food, sweets, pet food, roots of plants, and planted seeds. They can
access structures many times via plumbing pipes and move to upper
building floors and in winter, nests may be found in the home, near
a heat source. |
Little black ants are about 1/8 inch
long, slender, shiny black or dark brown, with two nodes and a 12-segmented
antennae with a three segmented club. They are found throughout the
U.S. but most often in the east. One of the more common house-infecting
ants, Little Black ants nest in wall voids, woodwork, masonry, soil,
rotted wood and under carpets. They may build colonies under rocks,
logs and debris outside the house. Nests in the ground are detected
by very small craters of fine soil. They feed on sweets, meats, vegetables,
fats and oils, and other insects. |
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Ant Management
Ant control depends on the species of ant, the nature of the
infestation, and the location of the nest. Proper identification
and observation of the characteristics of nests or ant behavior
is key to control. For example, a carpenter ant can be recognized
by piles of wood shavings.
The first step in control is a thorough inspection by a professional
to determine the type and extent of the infestation, as these factors
will determine the treatment that is required.
A chemical barrier may be effective for ants nesting outdoors and
invading a building for food. However, this barrier will be temporary,
because workers from the nest will again invade the building when
the chemical residue becomes ineffective.
Colony eradication provides permanent relief, so it is important
to remember that the first priority of ant management is to locate
the nest(s) and eradicate them.
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(860) 582-9242