What is the appropriate response when ants are discovered inside a Ewing home or office? Too many people simply throw up their hands, accepting ant infestations as an ordinary part of life.
Perhaps one of the reasons why people seem to think that there is little that can be done about ant infestations is that these pest problems are so common. Ants are everywhere. In fact, there are far more of them than there are people. However, this does not mean that anyone has to accept ants invading the buildings where people live and work.
Many ant species that are common to the region frequently make their way indoors. Among these species are the acrobat ant, black ant, carpenter ant, citronella ant, odorous ant and pavement ant. Most of these are not particularly harmful, but they all have the potential to make people sick through food poisoning. Moreover, some of these ants, especially carpenter ants, can cause damage to property.
Ants can do very well when they live in man-made structures. That is because these buildings provide everything that the ant colony needs to thrive. Abundant food and ready shelter await ants in most buildings, and getting inside frequently is not an issue.
Ants are so small that it is not difficult for them to find their way indoors through tiny cracks, gaps and fissures. Unless these openings are eliminated, the ants will continue to come indoors.
The best way to seal up a building against ants and other pests is to request the assistance of a licensed pest management professional. Additionally, the pest control technician can utilize powerful poisoned baits that quickly wipe out entire ant colonies. With cleanup and repairs complete, people can resume living and working in buildings where pest problems are no longer a concern.
WHAT DO ANTS LOOK LIKE?
The most noticeable characteristic of the acrobat ant is its practice of lifting its abdomen over its head when it is frightened. This ant has a shiny black, brown or red body and prickly hairs on its head.
Like the acrobat ant, the black ant is shiny, but they are almost always completely black. A full-grown adult is just one-sixteenth of an inch long, which can make identification difficult for the untrained eye.
At one-quarter of an inch in length, the carpenter ant is the largest local species. Brown and black are common colors, though some sub-species do exhibit brighter, more varied hues. If a citronella ant is crushed, it gives off a noticeable smell of lemon verbena. This, combined with its yellow coloring, make it easy to identify when compared with other common species.
While the odorous ant looks like many other ant species with its brown or black body and one-eighth of an inch size, this species can be identified by its scent. Whenever a rotting coconut smell is noticed indoors, it is probably owed to an odorous ant infestation.
Pavement ants look a lot like odorous ants, but they do not have a peculiar odor. Moreover, the pavement ant has a series of ridges running along the length of the head and thorax. Although they have a stinger, this defensive weapon is really only used on other ants..
WHERE DO ANTS LIVE?
Ant species tend to prefer different nesting habitats. Acrobat ants are most likely to be found in trees, perhaps using a hollow that was abandoned by a bird or animal. Black ants are more likely to be found in garden soil, pavement cracks, decaying logs or beneath a large rock. The citronella ant prefers a different habitat, typically nesting in a lawn, though forested areas and a spot adjacent to a building's foundation also may be attractive.
A subterranean nest is built by odorous ants. When they come indoors, their nests may be found in a wall void or in the far reaches of a cupboard or closet. Pavement ants, as their name suggests, nest within paved surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. The crack in a foundation serves the purpose as well.
Carpenter ants are slightly different in that they build a main outdoor nest in the soil, frequently around the rotting stump of a tree. If the colony is successful, it will establish satellite nests, some of which may be indoors. A structure that has any damaged or wet wood is particularly vulnerable to carpenter ants.
WHAT DO ANTS EAT?
Most of the ant species that are commonly found in Ewing eat a similar diet. That is even true for the carpenter ant, which many people mistakenly believe to eat wood. In fact, local ant species thrive on two main components: sugar and protein.
These substances may be obtained naturally through the honeydew that is excreted throughout the summer by various insect species. Plant sap also may provide sugar, and eating insects is a reliable source of protein.
Of course, when ants live with or in close proximity to people, there is no need to rely on these natural food sources. People eat all sorts of foods that are loaded with protein and sugar, and these serve the needs of the ant colony well.
Fruit, vegetables, rice and other grains, pasta, baked goods, peanut butter, meat and other foods all may be targeted by hungry ant workers that have a colony to feed.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANTS
Many of the ant species mentioned here are capable of biting and stinging, but these attacks usually are turned on other ants and insects. Moreover, these ants spend almost their entire lives underground. When people do see ants, the insects are so small that people rarely find them frightening. Still, it is undoubtedly disconcerting to see an endless line of ants marching across a kitchen or bathroom.
ARE ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
While they are capable of biting and stinging, most ants are not a threat to people. Nonetheless, their single-minded determination to exploit a food source can seem aggressive. This behavior will continue until the access point is blocked and the pheromone trail is destroyed.
DO ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Ants are capable of finding food absolutely anywhere. From dumpsters and garbage cans to kitchen counters and pantries, the possibilities are endless. These species have no problem traveling straight from a garbage can to a surface where food is prepared or into cabinets where food is stored. This means that the ants introduce a wide variety of contaminants into the food that people eat.
Consequently, cases of food poisoning tend to rise when ant infestations are ongoing.
HOW TO DETECT ANTS
Signs of an ant infestation include:
• Ant swarms indoors or immediately outside buildings • Ants marching across indoor surfaces • Large groups of ants on the ground adjacent to buildings
HOW TO PREVENT ANTS
To help prevent ant issues the following steps should be taken:
• Fix water leaks • Replace damaged wood • Keep woodpiles at least 20 feet from structures • Seal up building exteriors to prevent ants from coming indoors • Do not allow plants and trees to make contact with buildings • When trees are removed, ensure that stumps are removed as well • Keep all areas where food is stored, prepared or eaten clean|
HOW WE TREAT FOR ANTS
Ants are the number one pest control issue and can prove virtually impossible for home and business owners to solve on their own. Ending an ant infestation typically requires proper ant identification, locating and destroying the nest or colony, as well as the use and application of specialized products.
As such, it is not advisable for property owners to attempt to eradicate an ant infestation without assistance from a professional pest control provider.
