Ants

Ants: Knowing is Half the Battle

Ants are an ever-present nuisance pest that can be found almost anywhere in the world. That’s due to their remarkable adaptability and social structures. They are organized, persistent, and methodical in their mission to grow their colonies. The bad news: They have no issue invading homes in large numbers to get what they want. The good news? All Solutions Pest Control is here to help you keep them out.

Our local pest control professionals have been trained extensively in identifying different species of ants. We can track down their colonies, and root them out at the source. And we can recognize the differences in appearance and behavior between different ant species. Which can mean the difference between a relatively simple fix, and a seemingly never-ending battle for control.

 

Odorous House Ants
These noxious little nuisances are ⅛ of an inch long, with dark brownish-gray coloration with a velvety sheen. The easiest way to identify these pests, however, is by their namesake odor, which they emit when crushed. Varying accounts suggest the smell is similar to coconut, citronella, or turpentine.
Pavement Ant
The Pavement Ant, while strikingly similar in both size (⅛ in) and appearance (also dark brownish) to the Odorous House Ant, demonstrates a number of behaviors that distinguish it from other ant species. For instance, the Pavement Ant actually prefers the outdoors, typically nesting underneath roadways, sidewalks, patios, foundations, and… pavement!
Pharaoh Ant
Measuring in at just 1/16th of an inch, these tiny terrors should not be underestimated. In fact, the miniscule size of the Pharaoh Ant is part of what makes them such a big problem: they are expert infiltrators, capable of gaining entrance into just about any structure through the tiniest of crevices.

Odorous House Ants are fully capable of surviving outdoors, as they have adapted to be quite resistant to extreme temperatures. They can commonly be found making shallow nests under boards and stones. However, while capable of ‘roughing it’, these ants show a strong preference for nesting indoors in warm, moist spaces. Such as in kitchens and bathrooms near sinks, utility closets, laundry rooms, and basements with sump-pumps. With preferences like these, it’s no wonder why the Odorous House Ant is the most common ant found in structures in Missouri.

Once a nest is established in a home (usually within exterior walls near water sources), the colony spreads throughout the house to forage for resources, seeking out sugary foods to bring back to the nest. These colonies can easily spread throughout the house like wildfire, and quickly infest vast areas of wall space. This can possibly necessitate multiple specialized pest control treatments to completely eliminate the colony.

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to these smelly squatters, don’t wait; call to schedule an appointment with All Solutions Pest Control today, before things get out of hand.

Pavement ants are also particularly territorial, and can often be observed battling with competing colonies on sidewalks and other paved surfaces, often creating piles of hundreds of dead ants. Possibly their most recognizable ‘calling card’, Pavement Ants also create small crater-like hills of sand around their nest’s entrance holes. 

While they are outdoorsmen at heart, these opportunistic pests will still occasionally invade homes to forage for foods rich in protein, sugar, and starch. Once these resources are found, the ants will lay down scent trails and call in the rest of the family to help transport the food back to their nest.

Worried about a potential outbreak of these pesky blacktop bugs? Give All Solutions Pest Control a call today- We’ll kick em’ to the curb.

Once inside a structure, Pharaoh ants waste no time setting up multiple colonies throughout the building, sometimes establishing multiple colonies in the same room. Large colonies can create dozens, if not hundreds of reproductive females.

Easily identifiable by their orange-yellowish coloration, Pharaoh Ants do not typically form nests outdoors, as they prefer to live and forage in warm, moist indoor environments. They also exhibit peculiar nesting habits, and have been observed creating nests between pieces of stationery and between layers of bedsheets. These pervasive pests are attracted to grease, meats, insects, and sweets, and are infamously adept in their ability to get into things- things like refrigerators, pantries, bags, boxes, and waste bins… and that’s just in residential homes. 

Some of these nasty nuisances have also been known to infest office buildings, factories, bakeries, restaurants, and even hospitals. This behavior is especially dangerous to immune-compromised individuals, as Pharaoh ants can carry a number of different pathogens, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Salmonella.

If you’re seeing Pharaoh Ants in your home, the last thing you want to do is wait. Call All Solutions Pest Control to schedule an appointment today.

Habits

1
Foraging
Most species of ants are omnivorous, meaning they will eat both plants and other animals for sustenance. When an ant discovers a potential food source, they will lay down a scent trail leading back to their colony, which they use to direct more workers to the food source.
2
Nesting
Ants found in the wild will often form subterranean nests underneath naturally occurring objects such as stones and fallen trees. Any ants found inside structures typically build their nests in wall voids near sources of moisture like kitchen sinks.
3
Swarming
When starting a new colony, some species of ant will produce a winged reproductive female, which will leave the colony. It flies until it finds a suitable habitat. Once a habitat is selected, they will mate, then bury themselves and begin laying eggs. That will eventually become the first brood of the new colony. This “swarming” behavior is very similar to that of termites, often leading to ant swarmers and termite swarmers being confused with one another.

Prevention and Tips

Ant trail
Sealing

Making adjustments to the home to make it less permeable to ants is a great way to reduce their presence. This includes caulking wall penetrations like phone and utility lines and tightening window and door frames.

Remove Debris

Remove any stray wood (firewood, mulch beds, boards) that is near the house, and trim any shrubbery that has grown too close to the house.

Fix Water Leaks

Preventing excess moisture from accumulating in the structure of your home will make it overall less hospitable to ants, thus discouraging them from nesting there.

Sanitation

Cleaning counters and tabletops where food has been prepared and eaten, along with storing food in properly sealed containers, will discourage ants from entering your home in search of food. Properly sealing garbage bags and frequently cleaning larger trash bins can also prevent ants from being attracted to the food waste in your garbage.

Get a Free Estimate!







    Request A Quote Today

    ...

    Contact Us

    Location :

    44 Jason Ct, St Charles, MO 63304

    Email :

    Phone :

      Call Now