Ants are social insects that live in colonies. They generally nest outside, but can enter your structure through the smallest cracks or openings. When this happens they are foraging for food and water. Ants will feed on both sweet based foods or protein/grease based foods, depending on the needs of the colony. Once a food source is located they leave a pheromone trail for their nest mates to follow. This is why when treating for ants it is important to locate the colony. If you “spray” where you are seeing them you will only kill a few at best.
Inspection
Our ant control program starts with a thorough inspection of your property.
Evaluation
- Inspect interior – Carpet edges, doors, windows and all areas of the kitchen.
- Exterior- Foundation Walls, areas of vegetation and mulch beds.
- Identify the type of ant.
- Follow ant trails to locate the nesting sites
- Look for entry points and make recommendations for repairs.
- Design a treatment plan.
Control
Each ant treatment will be designed to fit your property needs. Because there are so many different types of ants in our region we find this identification the most important part of our treatment plan. Some ants like the Pharaoh ant will “bud” if you apply a pesticide where they are nesting. This means that the colony will split causing many different sub colonies making control harder to achieve.
- Treat ant trails with either a bait or liquid application.
- Treat the colony once located with either bait or liquid application.
- Bait around points of entry and make recommendations for repairs.
Ants typical to our region
- Odorous House ants
- Pharaoh Ants
- Pavement Ants
- Acrobat Ants-Nest in decaying wood
- Carpenter Ants- Typically will nest in wood that has a 20% or higher moisture content. Mostly around leaking windows, roof lines where gutters are backing up.
Neat ant facts
Ants and aphids go hand in hand. Ants will protect aphids because they feed from the honeydew that they secrete. Typical plants that attract aphids’ are roses, azalea, Hydrangea and rhododendron to name a few.
