Ants




ANT CONTROL FEASTERVILLE PA



There are an estimated 20 quadrillion ants worldwide. Fortunately, there are only some 6 types of ants that are often found in the Feasterville area, including, acrobat ants, black ants, carpenter ants, citronella ants, odorous ants and pavement ants.

Large ant piles that exist in the middle of a sidewalk or on a porch can be a nuisance. It may seem like these ants simply appear out of nowhere, but colonies can include 100,000 to 500,000 workers and several hundred queens. They simply hide beneath the surface of the ground, multiplying and digging tunnel systems until they emerge and are noticed.

Professional pest control may be needed in order to address an ant problem that is very extensive and established. Unfortunately, it is common for an ant problem to go unnoticed for a long period of time. This is especially true outdoors, where ants can create tunnels deep within the earth. Even in homes, ants can be very hidden within walls, creating destruction for months or years without being spotted.

WHAT DO ANTS LOOK LIKE?



Descriptions of the most commonly found ants in Feasterville are provided below:

Acrobat Ant
The acrobat ant has a black to light brown body color. This species received its name because of the division between the abdomen and the rest of the body. The abdomen can be raised above the body to make the acrobat ant look more intimidating. This occurs when the ant feels threatened.

Little Black Ant
While the name of this ant species might suggest a body that is black in color, little black ants can have a dark brown to black body. Very small in size, a little black ant colony can quickly become established in a home or commercial structure. The queen little black ant is a bit larger in size and has wings.

Carpenter Ant
The body of a carpenter ant is red to black in color, with a very distinctive appearance. A carpenter ant is broken up into three sections, which include the head, thorax and abdomen. The adult carpenter ant can grow to be ¼ to 1/2 inch in length. Often a pest in homes, this species of ant builds paths between the location of their nest and where food is going to be regularly sourced. This can make quite a mess.

Citronella Ant
Ranging from red to dark brown, the citronella ant was named because of its ability to release a lemon or citronella smell when feeling threatened or is destroyed. These ants are annoying, but do not generally cause a lot of damage. There are winged citronella ants that function as swarmers.

Odorous Ant
Dark brown to black in color, the odorous ant has a very strong and bitter smell that is emitted when crushed. They build trails to and from food sources and have the ability to move very quickly. All odorous ants in a colony tend to be about the same size, which is an average of 1/8 inch in length.

Pavement Ant
The pavement ant is approximately 3 millimeters long and dark brown in color. Colonies are often found underneath the foundation of a structure, with the ants venturing out to find a food source.

WHERE DO ANTS LIVE?



The various species of ant choose a variety of habitats. While some colonies build a nest beneath rocks or in piles of yard debris, others will next inside logs, wood piles or trees. A pile of bricks or stones provides a likely nesting site, and species like the pavement ant and citronella ant choose to nest beneath slabs, porches, driveways and sidewalks. A telltale sign of this behavior is piles of sand or soil next to the cracks in these paved surfaces.

Frequently, ant colonies build nests either next to or inside a manmade structure. Spots adjacent to the foundation, inside a basement or crawl space or within wall voids are common nesting sites. The most notorious species for building nests in structures are carpenter ants as these nests can cause considerable damage.

WHAT DO ANTS EAT?



The specific diet of an ant will often depend on the species; however, most ants consume things like seeds, leaves, nectar, smaller insects, fruit and sweets. Ants are very good at sourcing food, venturing anywhere from 10 to 15 meters away from the nest.

Depending on the species, an ant can carry anywhere from 10 to 50 times their body weight in food.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANTS


The extent of damage that ants cause depends on the species. For example, some species of ants are simply a nuisance and commonly encountered in or around Feasterville homes and businesses. There are other species, such as carpenter ants, that will remove sections of wood to develop nests and colonies. This can weaken wood, which is especially a problem with regard to the wood foundation of a home.

Some species of ants can cause a lot of damage inside walls when an infestation is present. This can include chewing through wires and cords, insulation, drywall and more. Looking for a mess that has been left behind by ants is a key way to determine if an infestation is present. Otherwise, ants are very good at hiding within nests. It can take months or even years for an ant problem to be spotted. By that point, a substantial amount of damage has already been done. The ant colony can be very developed, making it harder to address the problem from a pest control perspective.

ARE ANTS AGGRESSIVE?



Ants can become aggressive when they feel threatened. Certain species will have distinct behaviors that mark this aggression. However, even aggressive ants are usually pretty harmless. There are species that sting, such as fire ants, black garden ants and oak ants. When given the opportunity to swarm, stinging ants can make it difficult for humans to enjoy the outdoors.

DO ANTS CARRY DISEASE?



Ants do not necessarily carry disease but have the ability to transmit illnesses to humans. This includes salmonella, which is a bacterial food-borne illness that can cause some pretty unpleasant GI side effects like diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.

Ants transmit these illnesses by traveling through contaminated items and on dirty surfaces where the pathogen or bacteria is located. Then, the ants will travel over countertops and food preparation areas. Most homeowners do not realize this process has taken place, thus coming into contact with illness without being aware of what is going on.

There is also the potential for an ant bite to become infected if it is not properly taken care of. Because of the illnesses that ants can carry, bacteria can quickly enter an ant bite on a human. It’s important to clean a bite and care for it until it is healed.

HOW TO DETECT ANTS



These signs may indicate a need for ant control:

• Piles of wood dust or sawdust trails
• Seeing ant activity in the home
• Small piles of dirt in the yard
• Hollow sounds within wooden beams, floorboards or baseboards
• The integrity of wood framing may be compromised
• Sightings of discarded wings
• Large ant colonies can actually create rustling sounds in walls when the ants are in motion and working

HOW TO PREVENT ANTS



The following measures can be taken to help prevent ant problems:

• Seal gaps and cracks around the home to eliminate entry points
• Conduct routine yard cleanups to prevent plants and trees from touching the home
• Keep counters and tables clean, putting away food when not in use
• Remove garbage from the home on a regular basis
• Routinely inspect the yard for dirt piles or signs of ants, addressing colonies promptly

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.

Schedule a FREE inspection today.

GET THE FACTS



●  ANTS


Courtesy: National Pest Management Association
Acrobat Ants
Black Ants
Carpenter Ants
Citronella Ants
Odorous Ants
Pavement Ants
PEST PROBLEMS?
Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Incorporated BBB Business Review
Serving Southern PA & NJ
© 2023 Newtown Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.  Since 1993.