Ant Types

One by one, they'll drive you up the wall

888.800.7181

Ants

While tiny in size, ants can cause a major problem when they break into your home in search of food and swarm your pantry, under your kitchen appliances, or behind window frames. You may find yourself fighting with these pests year-round or seasonally without ever finding a solution to send them away for good. Even though they build their colonies outdoors, it’s common for ants to venture inside to collect food and take it back outside with them. Whether you like to share your sweets or not, you don’t want unwelcome visitors helping themselves to late-night snacks.

Contact the service pros at Greenix Pest Control for a permanent solution that will evict these unwanted intruders once and for all.

Why Do I Have Ants in My Home?

Regardless of the type of ant, these pests usually come indoors in search of food or nesting habitat. Even small amounts of food such as dropped crumbs or stray pet food can attract ants and lead to an infestation. Once their food source is eliminated these creepy-crawlers typically head out in search of other opportunities to thrive in an environment that is more conducive to their survival.

In addition to food, ants may make their ways indoors due to heavy rainfall or drought-like conditions that make their outdoor habitats less than appealing.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are found near paved areas like driveways, sidewalks, and foundations and can be identified by their small size, dark brown coloration, and large heads. Signs of pavement ant activity include the small piles of soil left behind where they surface and the tendency to create large “boiling” swarms. Swarms are created when multiple colonies overlap and begin to fight over resources. Pavement ant colonies can include as many as 4,000 members and have multiple queens. Colonies have been known to migrate from paved areas into home interiors, including insulation and under floors. These ants are adept at finding and moving through existing spaces like cracks, masonry joints, and flooring seams.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are commonly found near rotten, moisture-damaged wood and wood-based products. They are usually black but can also have maroon coloration and vary in size depending on their caste, or specific job in the colony. While their name may make them seem like they consume wood, they actually mine the material to create honeycomb-like tunnels known as galleries. This tunneling technique is the reason carpenter ants prefer damaged wood, which is softer and easier to mine. 

Signs of carpenter ant activity include the fine wood dust they leave behind referred to as frass. Carpenter ant colonies release swarms of reproductive ants in the spring and summer, usually after rainy weather. These “swarmers” can be identified by their wings and can spread out over large areas.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants emit a foul, rotten citrus odor when crushed. They are the second most common species of ant found worldwide. Odorous house ants are monomorphic, meaning they come in one size. Colonies are usually found nestled in dark, moist areas around the exterior of the home but have been known to move into wall voids or under flooring. These ants usually operate out of a central colony with a secondary satellite colony based close to a food source. 

Due to their ability to detect repellent products, these ants are known to bud and fracture their colony causing them to spread and be more difficult to contain.

Ant Prevention Tips

The easiest way to keep ants from infiltrating your home is to prioritize cleanliness in your kitchen. Your space doesn’t need to be spotless but a well-kept and clean area will provide no food for ants to devour or areas to nest. A few steps to take include:

  • Cleaning up food and liquid spills as soon as they happen
  • Sweeping under appliances to remove crumbs 
  • Storing food in airtight containers, including Fido’s favorite post-dinner bones
  • Sealing cracks and crevices around your doors and window frames
  • Emptying garbage cans regularly and keep lids closed tightly

Ant Control With Greenix Pest Control

Don’t let the ants come marching in and take over your peaceful home. When you discover ants in your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or beyond, it’s time to call in the service professionals at Greenix for ant control solutions. Even though they may just be a seasonal intruder in your home, it takes professional pest control and constant monitoring to eliminate ants and keep them gone for good. 

With a proven 5-step process that addresses at-risk areas both inside and out, we’ll develop a plan to send ants away and keep them from making a return. Contact the experienced pest control experts at Greenix Pest Control and schedule your free inspection today. 

3 Easy Steps to Ant Free Counters

Call or Click

Call
or Click

Schedule A Service Icon

Schedule
Service

Kick Back & Relax Icon

Kick Back & Relax

Get your free quote today.

Peace of mind begins here.

Schedule ant control with our team by calling (844) 689-7741. You can also message us online.