Have you ever turned over a landscaping rock in your yard, only to find a multitude of tiny, dark ants living under it? If so, then you have probably discovered a colony of little black ants.
Unfortunately, little black ants do not always stay outdoors. Workers may be lured inside in search of food, and it is even possible that the ants will establish a colony next to or even inside a house.
Like all ant infestations, bringing a little black ant problem under control can be complicated. That is why it makes sense to have an exterminator deal with the issue. Thanks to the experience and training of the pest management professional, it is possible to eliminate the little black ant colony while also dealing with other pest problems that may be causing issues on the property.
HOW TO IDENTIFY LITTLE BLACK ANTS
Given their tiny size, it can be difficult to distinguish little black ants from other ant species. The good news is that exterminators are adept at pest identification, which makes it easier to eliminate the problem with proper treatments.
• WHAT DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Little black ants are insects with six legs. Workers, the most commonly seen members of the colony, only reach a maximum size of about one-and-a-half millimeters. However, the colony's queen may reach a length of four millimeters. Most colony members range between dark brown and jet black in color. A pair of antennae on each ant's head is divided into 12 segments and terminates in clubs with three segments. The species may be identified by their two-segmented pedicel, unevenly rounded thorax and lack of spines..
• LITTLE BLACK ANTS VS CARPENTER ANTS
Sometimes, people discover little black ants in their home and worry that they may be facing a carpenter ant infestation. Although both of these species of ants are common pests found throughout the Bucks County area, it is relatively easy to tell them apart. The most distinguishing characteristic between the two is the difference in their sizes. This is because carpenter ants are on average three times larger than little black ants.
SIGNS OF LITTLE BLACK ANTS
If you come into the kitchen and see a line of small, black insects trailing across the floor or counter, then chances are good that you are experiencing a little black ant infestation. You also may find them in or on kitchen cabinets, and some little black ants inhabit the bathroom.
• WHEN ARE LITTLE BLACK ANTS ACTIVE?
The most common time to see little black ant activity is in the summer. Between June and August, you may see mating swarms just outside your house. Sometimes, these swarms occur indoors if the colony is nesting in the house.
Similarly, you are most likely to encounter lines of little black ants in the kitchen during the summer when the colony is at its largest and most active. Activity may begin to die down in the fall with the arrival of colder weather.
• DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS COME OUT AT NIGHT?
Little black ants tend to be more active at night than they are during the day. Approximately 15 minutes after sundown, the workers will begin to emerge from the nest. The main role of these workers is to forage for food. They follow chemical trails that lead them to a reliable food source.
PROBLEM WITH LITTLE BLACK ANTS
Because they are not destructive to property, most people consider little black ants to be a nuisance rather than a threat. Nonetheless, this species is responsible for causing many cases of food poisoning each year, and no one wants to see these small invaders marching across food preparation surfaces.
• HOW DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS GET IN THE HOUSE?
Little black ants may nest outdoors under a mound of yard debris or in the soil. Nonetheless, they are almost as likely to seek shelter inside human habitations. This is especially true when conditions become hot and humid during the summer. Masonry or woodwork can provide ideal nesting habitat.
Initially, little black ants come into houses seeking food and water. They enter through tiny cracks, crevices and holes that may be found in the home's exterior. Gaps around window and door frames or those around the places where plumbing or utility lines enter the home also are good entry points. Ants also may come indoors through a tear in a window screen or a door that has carelessly been left open.
• HOW LONG DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS LIVE?
How long a little black ant lives depends upon its role in the colony. Queens may live for up to 15 to 20 years, while male ants will die a few short weeks after mating with the queen. Four years is the longest lifespan to which a worker ant can aspire. Accordingly, it is easy to see why little black ants must be such prolific reproducers.
• HOW FAST DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS REPRODUCE?
Virgin queens and male little black ants fly in mating swarms in the spring or summer. Shortly thereafter, the male dies, the female sheds her wings and begins building a nest. She digs a small chamber and immediately lays eggs that will hatch in eight to ten weeks. The eggs develop in stages to larva and pupa before becoming adults. This first generation of workers will be relatively small because resources are scarce. Successive generations emerge bigger, stronger and more aggressive because they have earlier generations of worker ants to care for them.
The queen's sole responsibility at this point is laying eggs. She may produce hundreds of eggs in a single day, and only eight weeks are required for those eggs to reach maturity.
WHY LITTLE BLACK ANTS ARE DIFFICULT TO TREAT
Their small size is just one of the reasons why it can be excessively difficult to treat a little black ant infestation as it means that they can hide just about anywhere. Fortunately, exterminators know just where to look and how to eliminate these persistent pests.
• WHAT ATTRACTS LITTLE BLACK ANTS?
These ants are attracted by food, water and shelter. This means that people have to eliminate the ants' ability to find these necessities within their homes. A few crumbs on the counter or that have been dropped on the floor may not seem like a big deal to you, but they are a veritable feast to a hungry ant colony. Similarly, a tiny leak from a pipe in the basement may seem like little cause for concern, but that is a reliable water source for an ant colony. Once you know what attracts ants to houses, you can set about correcting those issues.
• WHERE DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS COME FROM?
Even if the nest is located outdoors, it is not unusual for little black ant workers to come inside. In fact, they are known to travel hundreds of yards away from the nest in search of food and water. This means that getting from a nest in the garden to your kitchen is no trouble at all. Ants have powerful senses of smell that lead them unerringly to food every time. The bowl of fruit that you leave on your kitchen counter quickly can become a target.
• WHERE DO LITTLE BLACK ANTS HIDE?
Little black ants may be found hiding almost anywhere. They prefer to nest in places that are dark and enclosed because this offers them the most protection from elements and predators. Likely indoor nesting sites include wall voids, soffits, attics, basements and crawlspaces. You may even find some ants concealed inside cabinets or under major kitchen appliances.
PREVENTION TIPS FOR LITTLE BLACK ANTS
The good news is that there are plenty of things that you can do to take back control of the situation. It may be hard work, but with the assistance of a knowledgeable pest management professional, it is possible to safeguard your home against little black ants and more destructive pests.
• HOW TO KEEP LITTLE BLACK ANTS OUF OF YOUR HOUSE
The most critical thing you can do to protect your family from invading ants is to seal up your home's exterior. This means identifying cracks in the foundation and small holes in the home's siding that need to be sealed, filled or covered. If you notice that there are gaps around the places where electrical wiring or utility lines enter your home, then these can be sealed as well. It is necessary to repair holes in door and window screens and leaks in plumbing and irrigation systems. Keep garbage cans clean and stored away from the house to prevent any potential issues. Moreover, it makes sense to trim back foliage so that it does not make contact with the home's exterior.
Indoors, take special care to clean up crumbs and spills, and refrain from storing food on the counter or the table. Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher rather than the sink. Take out the garbage frequently, and your home will look far less attractive to little black ants.
HOW WE TREAT FOR LITTLE BLACK 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.
