The world never seems to run out of ants. In my house alone, it seems like there are millions of them. It always seems like crushing them with my fingers on sight only makes them stronger. Actually, ants have a huge number of species scattered all over the world. More than 12,000 species have been identified. So the way I see it, it takes more than crushing them with my fingers to eliminate them from the face of the earth. Of that number, only a few species make it to our homes as pests.
Ants look almost the same as termites, so do not confuse them with one another. The ants’ heads are large with antennae and powerful jaws and thin waistline. Termites leave off signs of their presence because they tend to be less visible than the ants. These termite signs shall be discussed in more detail in another article. Ants can carry 10 to 50 times their own body weight. That is like a fully grown human being lifting 2 tons.
Ants As Pests
Believe it or not, ants can do more structural damage to your homes than the termites could. The carpenter ants, for example, are wood - destroying insects and are found across the United States. Carpenter ants burrow through the wood in our homes, destroying it in the process. There are instances wherein they also attack electric power outlets, damaging them too.
Ants Are Very Sociable
Ants form colonies that all differ in size; some only have a few dozen individuals, while some colonies are highly organized and consists of millions of ants. A colony always has one queen and plenty of fertile males. The queen’s only function in life is to lay eggs. This ensures the survival of her colony. The male ants live only to mate with the queen. The ant workers are sterile female ants. They are the ones who do all the dirty work. They feed the colony by looking for food, they care for the young and they are the colony’s protectors.
Common Ants Species You Have To Look Out For
Though there are around 12,000 species of ants around the world, you will only have to take note of a few of them. The rest are mostly found outdoors. Below is a list of common household ants:
Asian Needle Ants - These ants brown-black with dark orange mandibles, and their bodies are about 5 mm long. They mostly nest outdoors and they sting humans. Their sting can be quite painful. There are some reports of anaphylactic shock cases after being stung by this type of ants. Aside from the North and South Carolina, they are also found in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Carpenter Ants - This type of ants are among the most troublesome structural pests in the United States. They are about 6 mm to 13 mm in length. They destroy the wood in structures not by eating it, but by burrowing into them to make their nests. Typically, their nests are outdoors, in trees or lumber. But when indoors, they like to nest in roofs and woodwork that is near moisture.
Crazy Ants - They are 2.2 mm to 3 mm long, black-brown with antennae and long legs. This type of ants nest anywhere, be it in a dry environment or in a moist environment. When outdoors, they nest in plants, soil, and even garbage. When inside the house they can nest in any parts of your home. Crazy ants are not capable of stinging, because they do not have the necessary mouthparts. When disturbed, they will move around crazily without direction, thus their name.
Acrobat Ants - Their colors vary from yellow-brown to brown, while some are even black. They are 2.5 mm to 3 mm long. Acrobat ants got their names because of their ability to lift their abdomens above their heads and run, looking as if they are tumbling. Acrobat ants are aggressive and they sting. They usually nest outdoors, primarily in moist wood.
Argentine Ants - They are about 2.2 to 2.8 mm in length and are light to dark brown in color. Inside the house, they can be found in insulation. The Argentine ants do not have the ability to sting humans.
European Fire Ants - This type of ants are 4 to 5 mm long, reddish brown in color. They form nests inside houses during the cold months, usually under bathtubs, heaters, or other moist, warm areas. Their stings are painful.
Field Ants - They are 4 to 8 mm long and come in black, brown, or red colors. They can sting but are usually found outdoors only.
Dark Rover Ants - The dark rover ants are 1.6 mm in length with one node and brown in color. They prefer living near humans and prefer sweet liquids. They are mostly nuisance pests and do not sting. When indoors, their nests can be found in kitchens and bathrooms.
Diet
Ants prefer sweets but can eat almost anything. They eat nectar, fungus, seeds, and insects. There are some species that have a different food preference. Army ants are carnivores that eat anything alive, like insects, birds, frogs, lizards, and even some small mammals.
Control
There are some ways you can do to prevent the ants from infesting your homes. Here are the things you can do to get rid of ants in your homes:
Put your food inside sealed containers - Be wary of ants scouts that are constantly looking for your food. The stray ants you see are not lost ants because they do have a job to do. If you put away a food source, ants will have no business staying in your home.
Clean off food residue - Wipe off any food residue and spilled drinks on your table, floor, or the sink, otherwise, the ants would feast on them.
Seal off cracks and openings - Look for crack and openings around your homes. Though this will take so much time and effort, it will definitely be an effective way to keep ants out. Sealing off cracks and crevices makes it impossible for the ants to get in your homes.
Use ant baits - Using ant baits are an effective way to control their population. Ants who get attracted to the bait do not die immediately. When the ants return to their colony, it carries with it the poison which would eventually kill every ant in the nest.
Dispose of your garbage regularly - Obviously, the trash can has a treasure trove of yummy treats for them. Regularly dispose of your garbage so it will not attract ants.
The Best Pest Control Experts In Charlotte
If the number of ants is overwhelming you, then it is time to call in the professionals. You would not want just any professionals. If you are like me, you would only want the best among the best. Who are you going to call? Try the best pest experts in Charlotte NC, Go-Forth Home Services.
Why Go-Forth Home Services?
It is a family-owned company that has earned the trust of residents and businesses in Charlotte, having served the area for more than 50 years. Since 1959, they have made their presence felt in Charlotte, Asheboro, Jamestown, Columbia, Blythewood, Elgin, Camden, and in many other parts of North and South Carolina.
Worried about the type of service you will need? Go-Forth has highly skilled and well-trained professionals who can evaluate your homes and recommend to you the type of service you need that is easily within your budget. Their equipment? They utilize only the latest and the most advanced equipment that is available in the business. You can also rest assured of your family’s safety with Go-Forth because they only use family friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination. For this reason, Go-Forth has very positive reviews and the highest rated local company in the Triad on social media; you may check our Facebook, Twitter, and Google to see what our satisfied customers have to say.
Go-Forth is a member of the North Carolina Pest Management Association and the National Pest Management Association.
For more inquiries, or to set an appointment, you may call our hotline at (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.
About Charlotte
The popularity of Charlotte in North Carolina is unquestioned. It has a population of around 850,000, making it the 17th largest city in the United States in terms of the number of residents. It has one of the fastest growing economies. It is “one of the top 10 cities where everyone wants to live right now” according to WalletHub. It is “one of the top 10 best craft beer towns in America,” says Matador Network. It is “one of the 20 best places to live in the United States for the weather” so says U.S. News and World Report.
Charlotte is a sports town. They have popular professional sports teams, like the Charlotte Panthers of the NFL, Charlotte Hornets of the NBA, and the Charlotte Checkers in the AFL. Charlotte has some of the most avid and loyal fans on this side of the world.