Ants

Ants have three body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen), and between the abdomen and thorax, a tight constriction gives them the appearance of a narrow waist. Their bodies have a hard exoskeleton covering them, and they have six legs, elbowed antennae, and compound eyes. Ants are social insects; each colony contains three different types of adults; queens, male ants, and infertile female ants (workers). The queens and males are responsible for creating new ants, and the workers are responsible for the rest of the workload, including gathering food.

Many ants are local to our region, including carpenter ants, odorous house ants, sugar ants, and black ants. Ants are omnivores, and our gardens, yards, outdoor eating areas, and trash cans provide them with a buffet of foods to consume. After ants discover a food source, they lay down a pheromone trail to alert the other colony members. Their excellent communication skills, small size, and large populations are why ants are so challenging to control and keep away from our yards and out of our homes.

Partnering with a professional and putting regular home pest control services in place is the best defense against ants. However, there are some things to keep ants off your property in the first place. A good place to start is to block their common entry points by sealing cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, and installing door sweeps. Eliminate food sources by keeping lids on trash cans and recycling bins and keeping your home, especially the kitchen and eating areas, free of food debris. Regularly vacuum your house and wipe down surfaces to eliminate food odors that attract the attention of foraging ants.