Ants Pest Control

What do ants look like and why are they concerning?

With more than 10,000 known species in the world, ants are among the most unique insects that exist. They are skinny with a narrow connection between their abdomen and thorax. They have chewing mouthparts and antennae that are bent in the middle.

Depending on their type, they can be black, brown, red, or yellowish. Most species of ants grow to be between 5 and 15 mm long. All ants will belong to one of three colony castes- queens, workers, and males. Queens are responsible for laying all of the eggs in a colony. Males have wings and are only responsible for mating with the queens. Workers are wingless females who do not reproduce but are responsible for gathering food, maintaining the nest, and defending the colony. Workers are usually the type that are spotted around homes and businesses. Most commonly, a home or business owner will come across Odorous House Ants, Carpenter Ants, and Pavement Ants. Other common species in the United States include Fire Ants and Pharaon Ants. An ant infestation can cause significant problems in homes and buildings. Damage caused by ants can range from food infestation to nest building.

Where do ants live?

Ants, being social insects, live in colonies. Outside, they may build their nests underground, in trees and stumps, or beneath foundations. Inside, ants can build their nests in many places. Some such places include inside walls and cabinet voids or behind moldings and baseboards.

Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be especially susceptible to ant infestations, as they provide water, places to nest, and, in the case of kitchens, food.

Why do I have an ant problem?

Ants are attracted to potential food sources which may come in the forms of crumbs, food residue, dirty dishes that are left out, or trash that is not often emptied. Ants can enter your homes and buildings through the tiniest of cracks, such as those in foundations and around windows and doors.

They leave behind an innate scent which contains pheromones so their companions can follow the trail to food and begin to set up their colony.

When are ants active?

Generally, ants are most active during warmer seasons. This is especially true during the summer because they need to gather enough food to make it through the winter. The hotter and drier the weather is, the more inclined ants are to search your home or business for food and water.

What’s the best way to prevent an ant infestation?

In order to prevent ants from entering your home or business, it is important to seal off any possible entrances. This means fixing cracks in the foundation and sealing any gaps around doors and windows. Clean up any spills or food residue, and keep all food in sealed containers.

Most do-it-yourself techniques or professional approaches only kill the ants that you can visibly see. Using substances to get rid of the ants will cause them to scatter and create more problems. To be effective, a treatment must penetrate and destroy the unseen nest, which could be setup within your walls or the foundation of the structure. At EXCEL Termite and Pest Control, our experts work closely with you to determine the scope of an ant infestation. We know what you need for all forms of ant control and ant extermination. Our trained professionals will help you every step of the way, from pre-treatment preparation to follow-up.