Pavement Ant
As a group, ants are important natural predators of many insect pests, including flea and fly larvae, caterpillars and termites. Ants often become a nuisance when they enter our homes searching for food and can cause severe structural damage when they burrow through decaying wood to nest, a common behavior of carpenter ants. Some ant species become problems in lawns and gardens when they build large, unsightly mounds or protect aphids, mealybugs, scales and other insect pests from their natural enemies. Ants can also damage plants by tunneling around the roots, causing them to dry out.
Some ant species live in colonies that are supported by a single queen while others are supported by multiple queens. Although there are thousands of different ant species, there are relatively few that we commonly see as pests. These include:
Pavement Ants – Only 1/8 inch long, the tiny black Pavement Ant is very common. Large numbers of Pavement Ants are often found in sidewalk joints, under stones and concrete slabs. Pavement Ants do not cause structural damage or present risks to humans but are an annoyance inside the home.
Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh Ants – worker ants are 1/16” long and the Queen is 1/8 – 1/4 long. Both workers and the Queen are a yellow-brown color. Pharoah Ants originate from the tropics and require artificial heat in order to survive and reproduce and tend to live in large heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels and apartments. The pharoah ant is one of the most difficult ant species to control.
Citronella Ant
Citronella Ants – About ¼ inch long, citronella ants swarm in the late winter and early spring. Because of their swarming, they are often mistaken for termites. Unlike termites, however, citronella ants are simply a nuisance and do not cause structural damage. Citronella ants are so named for the pleasant citronella odor they give off when crushed.
How to Ant-Proof Your Home
Most ants come inside your home looking for food. They are attracted by sweet and sticky substances. Ant proof you home by making food unavailable:
|+| Always cover food – who knows where that ant has been before it crawls across your food?!
|+| Clean food and liquid spills immediately
|+| Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances
|+| Make sure all garbage cans are tightly sealed
|+| Keep compost piles enclosed and covered
|+| Put away pet food as soon as your pet has finished eating
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