What You Need to Know

Need to get rid of ants? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Are the Common Types of Ants in the United States?

Chances are, you’ve seen a few different kinds of ant — but did you know that the US is home to more than over 700 unique species of the ant? If that number is impressive, know this — there are more than 12,000 different ant species on the planet!

Where Do Ants Live?

Because ants are social insects, they live in organized colonies. Within colonies, there are two key types of ant — workers and reproductives.

Reproductives include the queen ant and the swarmers that populate the colony. These males and females have wings and function to venture forth and spread their colony. When a male and female swarmer mate at a new location, the female becomes the new queen and sheds her wings. The worker ants are those that build the colony or “anthills” you’re used to seeing. They also venture out and forage for food and even take care of the reproductive ants and their young.

How Long Do Ants Live?

Under the right conditions, a queen ant can live for a decade. Workers can live up to several months, and male swarmers have a relatively short lifespan of just a few weeks.

How Do Ant Infestations Occur?

If you’re starting to see ants in your home, it’s likely because they’re looking for food and water — and your home is within a close distance to the queen and the rest of the colony.

Can an Ant Infestation Damage My Home?

Depending on the type of ant that has found its way into your home, you’ll want to take special care to get a pest control expert as soon as possible. There is one particular species that is very troublesome for homeowners: the carpenter ant.

Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they burrow through wood to build their colonies. This has the potential to cause serious damage to your home. Be on the look for ants that are reddish black, solid black or dark brown in color and about five-eighths of an inch long — these are the most common physical characteristics of carpenter ants.

Are Ant Bites Dangerous?

While not all ants bite or sting, species like the imported red fire ant have painful bites that are quite irritating. Those who are allergic may have severe reactions to ant bites — so be sure to take the necessary precautions if you’re living with allergies and your property is prone to attracting ants.

How Can I Get Rid of Ants in My Home?

If the ants have come to your home, you’ll likely need to call a pest control expert to assist with the removal of ants. Ants can be quite resilient and persistent, so they’re not easy to eradicate from your home using DIY methods. If you’re seeing ants, definitely call a professional. Here are a couple of things you can do in the meantime:

1. Get rid of any food or water that’s left out.
2. Seal up all food and water sources.
3. If ants are traveling in a trail, they leave their scent behind. So take a disinfecting wipe or spray and wipe the area the ants have traveled to make it harder to find their way back.
4. Over the counter ant sprays may kill the worker ants you’re seeing but do nothing to target the colony and its queen. This is why you need expert pest control for ants.

When Should I Call Pest Control for Ants?

If you’re currently worried about the ant situation in your home, don’t wait for a full-blown infestation to occur before you take action to protect your home! You may have already started looking for answers and providers by conducting searches for “ant exterminators near me” or “pest control near me.” Let us help you end that search right now.

Call Pest Control Experts today to get a free quote and to schedule your home pest inspection as soon as possible