There are many types of ants that are prevalent in central Pennsylvania, and they can affect humans in a variety of ways, from damaging property to contaminating food and even bodily harm. Click the button below to set up an appointment for an ant control/treatment appointment.
Ants are colony-centric insects that subsist on sugar, proteins, and even other insects. They are often small in size, between 1/16" and 1" long, and are frequently seen in groups or "armies."
Ant colonies are very complex civilizations, often consisting of many satellite colonies and one primary colony, or mother colony. The members of these colonies have different jobs that contribute to the colony's success. Worker ants find food, build the nests, and take care of the young. Swarmers are winged ants that may be male or female and fly to other areas in order to start new satellite colonies. These swarmers will mate, and the males will die shortly after. A queen will then start a new colony and begin to lay her eggs—as many as 800 eggs a day.
Odorous house ants are commonly seen in and around homes and other structures. They are approximately 1/16" long and dark brown to black in color. Odorous house ant colonies are large, and these ants are quick to multiply. They prefer sweet fruit and other food, but will often search for proteins and dead insects as well. In order to effectively eradicate them, it is important to find the location of their colonies, which may be underneath floors or inside of walls.
Carpenter ants are relatively large in size, about 5/8" long, and are black to reddish brown in color. Carpenter ant colonies may reach numbers of up to 10,000 with a single queen. They do not eat wood, but will chew through it in order to build nests and proliferate. They are most attracted to moist wood and will invade structures from the outside, weakening them over time and making them dangerous for human inhabitants. To avoid carpenter ant problems, remove any standing water on your property and maintain dry conditions around wooden structures.
Pavement ants are visually similar to carpenter ants, but are about half the size and have an additional segment in the middle of their bodies. This type of ant is especially common in Pennsylvania, and will typically be found in cracks within pavement and stone. However, they are also known to infiltrate buildings with concrete slab foundations. The appetite of pavement ants is similar to that of odorous house ants. They will frequently infest trash and animal carcasses, and can carry germs and bacteria into your home as a result.
Ant control and eradication is especially difficult, as they leave a pheromone trail that other ants can follow to find food sources. Ants can also sense where other ants from their colony have been killed, and will reproduce more rapidly in order to bolster their colony against the perceived threat.
To treat infested areas, we will often use a combination of insecticide spray and granules. The spray will be used around known food sources of the ants, and the granules will be used as a form of broadcast baiting, which is taken back to the colony and eventually kills off the entire ant population.
Do you have an ant problem? Call us today, or click the button below to set up your appointment.
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