When people suddenly see acrobat ants indoors in their Feasterville home or business, it is common for them to wonder how the ants got inside. The reality is that it is fairly easy for ants to come indoors because of their small size. All they need is a tiny crack in a foundation or a small hole somewhere in the exterior of the building.
Man-made structures are incredibly attractive to species such as the acrobat ant. Food is readily available in any rooms where edible items are kept, prepared or consumed. A few dribbles of fruit juice on a counter top or some breadcrumbs on the kitchen floor can look like a feast to tiny acrobat ants. Once they have discovered one source of food, it is no challenge to find others. Before long, acrobat ants are infesting food in storage areas and questing in other rooms to find even the tiniest crumbs.
When acrobat ants come into residences and commercial buildings, they are not only looking for food. Buildings also promise access to water and potentially excellent habitat for nesting. Sometimes, it is possible for a colony of acrobat ants to establish themselves in an indoor space without being detected for several weeks or even months. Thanks to the favorable conditions, the population has exploded, and the building's human occupants have a huge problem on their hands.
Too many people minimize the situation when they encounter acrobat ants. They figure that the problem only consists of a few ants and that some sprays with a bug killer from the home improvement store will take care of it.
Unfortunately, ant infestations tend to be more stubborn and larger than most people realize. Bug spray can never truly end an infestation because it can only kill the individual insects with which it comes into contact.
Exterminators know that it is necessary to kill entire acrobat ant colonies using commercial-strength chemical baits that poison the insects. Additionally, they look for and eliminate all entrances that the ants and other pests are using to come indoors. Any nests that are located inside the building must be hunted down and removed.
It is only when all of these steps are completed that it is possible to guarantee that the ants will not come back.
WHAT DO
ACROBAT
ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Perhaps the best way to identify acrobat ants is to watch their behavior. Members of this species have a peculiar trick of lifting their abdomens up over their heads. This behavior is most likely to be displayed when the ants are alarmed or feel the need to defend themselves.
Beyond that, acrobat ants can be difficult to tell apart from other ants. Most members of these colonies are either brown or black, and the workers are about one-eighth of an inch long. The queen, which rarely leaves the nest, is about three-eighths of an inch long. Until she is destroyed, it is likely that any infestation will continue.
WHERE DO
ACROBAT
ANTS LIVE?
Acrobat ants are not especially selective about nesting habitat. That is, a colony is capable of thriving in various environments and conditions without necessarily requiring the same habitat wherever they roam. An underground gap beneath a large stone, a pile of leaf litter or a fallen tree all may look like ideal places to nest. Piles of firewood or discarded lumber are attractive as well. In fact, dead lumber and diseased trees provide excellent nesting habitat thanks to the rotting wood, which is much easier for digging into to create tunnels and galleries.
Accordingly, it is no great leap to see that man-made structures can provide ideal habitat for acrobat ants in Feasterville. The smallest of openings will be used to come indoors, and an overhanging branch may provide the perfect access to the building's roof.
Once inside, the ants will scout for a good nesting spot. Any damaged wood in the structure will be infested. Wall voids, door frames and the spaces beneath floors are just a few examples of places where nests may be located. Styrofoam insulation panels make great nests, and these ants are drawn to spots that have moisture issues. Any plumbing leaks, condensation issues or the presence of fungi look like open invitations to acrobat ants.
WHAT DO
ACROBAT
ANTS EAT?
In their natural habitat, acrobat ants are most frequently found living underground. This gives them convenient access to insects like aphids and mealybugs that feed on plant roots. These insects also secrete a substance that is called honeydew, and this is the staple food in the acrobat ant diet.
Protein is gained through eating insects both living and dead. From this perspective, it is possible to view acrobat ants as a beneficial species, especially since they are known to have enormous appetites for termite swarmers. Of course, any benefits that might be derived from acrobat ants living in wild areas disappear once the ants begin coming indoors.
Since sugar and protein are required nutrition for these ants, they have plenty of incentive to eat food that is meant for people and pets. Meat, condiments, peanut butter, honey and syrup are just some examples of favorite foods of the acrobat ant.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANTS
Acrobat ants prefer to use and exacerbate existing damage to wood to make their nests. If the building has ever had a water leak or used to have an infestation of termites or carpenter ants, then it is particularly vulnerable to acrobat ants. This species does only limited excavating, preferring to allow the existing damage to the wood to serve as the nest. Existing tunnels and galleries left behind by wood boring insects may be cleaned out by acrobat ants, resulting in tiny mounds of dirt and sawdust on floors or next to foundations.
Acrobat ants are even known to strip insulation from telephone and electrical wires, causing serious outages.
ARE
ACROBAT
ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
With their small size, acrobat ants are no threat to people. Their preference is to avoid humans as much as possible, and bites that do occur generally are not painful.
DO
ACROBAT
ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Acrobat ants frequently are infested with the bacteria called salmonella. As they forage in stored food and on food preparation surfaces, salmonella and other bacteria may be liberally left behind. People who eat contaminated food or who prepare food on an unclean surface are at risk for a bout of food poisoning.
People also report a rise in instances of Shigella, Staph, E. coli, strep and clostridium when acrobat ants are present.
HOW TO DETECT
ACROBAT
ANTS
Signs of an acrobat ant presence include:
• Ants observed marching on wires or utility lines • Ants congregating on the exterior of a building or adjacent to the foundation • Small bits of insulating foam are found on the ground around the foundation • Sawdust and dirt piles on the floor • The presence of mold or fungi, both of which may attract acrobat ants
HOW TO PREVENT
ACROBAT
ANTS
To help prevent an acrobat ant issue the following steps should be taken:
• Cut back trees and foliage to prevent contact with buildings • Ensure that the holes around utility lines and wiring are sealed • Use screens on all exterior doors and windows • Repair or replace all damaged wood • Fix water leaks • Attend to issues with mold and fungi • Ensure that all painted surfaces are in good condition • Use weather stripping and caulk to get rid of entry points
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.
