As the weather gets warmer, and ants make their way indoors, seeking food and water. Any Philadelphia area home or office that has even the smallest cracks and holes in its exterior is vulnerable to an infestation of ants.
Ants further may build a nest inside or adjacent to residences. When ant colonies are established indoors, it can cause structural damage, as is the case with the carpenter ant.
Other ant species such as the acrobat ant, black ant, citronella ant, odorous ant and pavement ant similarly may invade people's homes and businesses. In general, the ant traps that are available at home improvement stores are not adequate when it comes to stopping ants. This is because they are only capable of handling a few individuals, and because they do not address other components of the infestation, such as holes or cracks in the exterior of the building.
However, with the assistance of a pest management professional, ant infestations are often soon put to an end.
WHAT DO ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Carpenter ants are the largest local species, with workers measuring as long as five-eighths of an inch. Coloration may range anywhere from brown and black to red and light brown, though most individuals are black. Winged, reproductive members of the species may be seen swarming in the spring.
Ranging from one-eighth to just over one-fourth of an inch long, the most distinguishing characteristic of the acrobat ant is its propensity for raising its heart-shaped abdomen over its head. Most of these ants are black, though some species may be dark brown or red.
Black ants, which are frequently referred to as little black ants, typically only grow to one-eighth of an inch. However, the colony's queens may be approximately two to three times larger. As their name implies, these ants are uniformly black.
Golden yellow citronella ants are distinctive because of their color. The citrus-like scent that is emitted when they are crushed also makes them unique. Workers typically grow to a maximum of one-quarter of an inch.
Odorous ants also have a distinctive scent. When they are crushed, they smell like rotting coconuts. They usually are either black or brown with workers growing to about one-eighth of an inch.
Pavement ants are similar in size when compared to odorous ants. However, they are dark brown to black.
WHAT DO ANTS EAT?
Ants may seek food from a variety of sources. Insects that feed on plants like mealybugs, scales and aphids, produce a sweet substance called honeydew that forms a large portion of the ant diet. Ants also may eat other insects, grease and seeds.
Human homes provide a rich source of nutrition. Ants will infest honey, syrup, peanut butter, fruit, vegetables, grains, seeds, meat, pet food and more.
WHERE DO ANTS LIVE?
Preferred habitats vary depending upon the species. Carpenter ants are most likely to nest outside in stumps, holes in trees, landscaping timbers or dead limbs because these places provide rotting wood and dampness. Acrobat ants and black ants have similar nesting preferences.
Citronella ants prefer to nest in soil, frequently looking for underground spots that are protected by stones or logs. Nests may be located within mulch that is placed close to a foundation or beneath a slab floor.
Similarly, odorous ants are likely to nest outdoors, making use of landscape mulch or loose tree bark. Nests may be found under ground cover, in piles of lumber or bricks or beneath large stones or fallen trees. Sometimes, homeowners find a colony nesting in wall voids or underneath carpeting.
Pavement ants prefer to nest in loose soil that is adjacent to or beneath pavement slabs, driveways, patios or similar structures. Workers leave behind piles of sandy soil next to these paved surfaces. Some colonies will look for a hole or crack in a foundation, carry soil up the wall and build a nest there.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY ANTS
Most ants cause minimal damage to property. Pavement ants may cause paved surfaces to settle and crack with their tunneling activity. Sometimes, these surfaces can become uneven, making them trip hazards.
Ants that establish a colony in wall voids or otherwise within a structure also may cause a small amount of damage. It can be extremely difficult to completely remove an ant nest from within walls, necessitating complicated and potentially expensive repairs.
The most destructive ant species is the carpenter ant. They may establish numerous satellite colonies throughout the property both indoors and out. With the habit of burrowing into wood, carpenter ants actually can undermine the structural integrity of buildings. The damage may be severe and require extensive repairs.
ARE ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Most ant species are adapted to work underground, in darkness or at night. Consequently, people and ants are relatively unlikely to encounter each other.
While some ants bite and others are equipped with stingers, actual attacks on people are rare and unlikely to be dangerous when they do occur.
Nonetheless, ant colonies frequently boast thousands of workers, and seeing an endless line of ants in the kitchen may be enough to convince people that ants are an aggressive and determined species.
DO ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
When ant infestations are occurring, the human inhabitants of the infested home are always in danger of food poisoning. Ants forage for food in all sorts of conditions. Their strong sense of smell may lead them into garbage cans and sewers as well as animal carcasses and drains.
Along the way, ants encounter a range of bacteria and other toxins and contaminants. All of these potentially harmful substances are then distributed on surfaces in people's homes. This includes on countertops and tables where people prepare food. Unless these surfaces are disinfected before use, people run the risk of becoming sick.
Similarly, ants freely infest any food items stored on countertops, tables or in pantries. These items quickly become contaminated and cannot be eaten.
HOW TO DETECT ANTS
Signs of ant infestation include:
• Small piles of wood shavings around foundations and basements • Piles of sandy soil around paved surfaces • Winged, swarming insects appearing in the spring • Ants discovered in pantries or kitchens
HOW TO PREVENT ANTS
To help protect against ant issues the following steps should be taken:
• Remove scraps of wood and dead wood from the property • Keep landscaping mulch well away from foundations • Trim landscaping so that it does not touch structures • Seal up all holes and cracks in buildings • Repair plumbing leaks upon discovery • Correct dampness issues in crawl spaces and basements
HOW TO 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.
