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HOW TO GET RID OF ANTS IN YOUR HOME

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Stop the stream of ants; call Hawx Pest Control

Ants are small, opportunistic insects that live in gigantic colonies that can often exceed more than a million ants. Despite their tiny size, ants are widely regarded for their unbelievable strength, including their ability to lift several times their own body weight and carry it singlehandedly. They also have a tremendous sense of smell—several times better than that of a dog. That means they can latch on to even the faintest whiff of a scent and follow it into areas where you might have food or waste stored. Because they only need the tiniest gap to get in, ants often find their way into our homes and businesses, and it is extremely difficult to remove them once they do.

Are you struggling with an ant problem? Hawx Pest Control can help. We offer a full range of ant control services, including both extermination and preventative measures, throughout the country in cities such as Atlanta East, Atlanta West, Charlotte, RaleighSacramentoAustinMilwaukee, and Riverside. We know ants inside and out and have handled problems of all shapes and sizes with a wide variety of different types of ants. They’re tremendously common, but that doesn’t make them easy to deal with, and our team is ready to handle any issue you might be facing.

Tired of your ant problem? Call Hawx Pest Control at (888) 372-9514 now and schedule an inspection of your commercial or residential property. Find your local Hawx Pest Control today!

What are ants?

There’s a strong chance you can probably easily identify ants just by looking at them. These tremendously commonplace insects are one of the most common and consistent parts of life. Ants are everywhere, and experts estimate there are literally quadrillions of the bugs on earth. Ants have a few common, defining features, including a three-segmented body, six legs, bent antennae, and a tendency to live in colonies. However, there are some key differences, including physical appearance, food preferences, behavior, and more. Likewise, some types of ants are more dangerous and aggressive than others, presenting a bigger and more urgent issue for your property.

What do ants typically look like?

Ranging between 1 to 30 mm, there is a tangible size difference between ant species. However, some common visual attributes of most species of ants include:

  • bent antennae 
  • a defined “waist” in between their abdomen and thorax and 3 body parts
  • chewing mouthparts

Most ants are brown or black, but they can also be yellow or red. The color isn’t always helpful for identifying the species, but it’s a good starting point. Keep reading to learn more about specific ant species, where they live, and which ones may be found inside your home.

Common ant behaviors

The habits and tendencies of ants can vary, but some common actions amongst most species are listed below.

  • They  are part of a whole, and often manage tasks as a group
  • Ants leave pheromones on surfaces and food that they touch, which act as signals to other ants
  • They pile food or other items together to build nests or other organized structures 
  • They don’t like to live in super icy climates like Antarctica, Greenland, and Iceland. Otherwise, you can find ants literally anywhere else in the world. 
  • They usually eat sugary substances as well as plant sap and other small insects
  • They carry whatever food they find back to their nests and can carry food or other objects that are over 10 times their weight

Given that ants are part of a collective whole, the best treatment options for these insects often involve the colony.

What do ants typically look like?

Most ants are brown or black, but they can also be yellow or red. Ranging between 1 to 30 mm, there is a large size difference between ant species. 

However, some common visual attributes of most species of ants include:

  • bent antennae 
  • a defined “waist” in between their abdomen and thorax; 3 body parts
  • chewing mouthparts

Types of ants

There are over 12,000 species of ants in the world. Although they have some things in common that we highlighted above, the species can differ widely from one another too. Some of the most common species of ants are described below.

Little black ants

As you may have guessed from their name, these ants are small in size (1.5 to 2mm) and typically black in color (some can be dark brown). They can be found throughout the U.S.and are most active from June to August. They build nests in wooded areas, under logs or rocks, or in rotting wood or wall voids inside or outside of your home.

Little black ants have stingers, but they are too small to cause any real harm to people. They eat common ant foods like grease, oil, meats, fruits, other insects, and plant nectar. It’s hard to control a colony once it’s been established, so prevention is key when it comes to keeping these types of small ants out of your home. Seal cracks and crevices in walls, keep firewood outside of the home, and try to locate any nests that are nearby so you know where the ants are coming from.

Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants are large, typically around ½ to ⅝ of an inch in size. They have heart-shaped heads and can be any combination of red, brown, or black in color. Most are wingless, except for the swarmers, who hatch during spring and summer months and are known as flying carpenter ants. They eat sugars, nectars, and insects like many other ant species. 

Carpenter ants are often confused with termites because they are similar in size and burrow into wood. Some easy ways to tell them apart are by their antennae (carpenter ants have bent antennae while termites have straight antennae) and by their tunnels (carpenter ants dig clean tunnels while termites dig messy tunnels). Both insects nest in damp or damaged wood that has a lot of moisture. The biggest issue with carpenter ants and termites is that their excessive tunneling can compromise the structural integrity of your home.

Fire ants

You can identify the most common type of fire ant, the red imported fire ant, by its reddish brown or yellow color and its small size (1–5 mm). They can be found in tropical locations in South and Central America and in warm southern climates in North America as well. 

These ants can be aggressive, especially the worker ants. They don’t just sting; they also bite to hold themselves steady and adequately inject their stinger. Like most insects, fire ants probably won’t bother you unless they feel threatened. However, if you are stung or bitten, the resulting pustules will hurt, itch, and may get infected if they’re scratched open.

Argentine ants

This ant species is most known for walking in a very long, single-file line. They are especially prominent in California. Typically dark in color and small in size (around 3mm), Argentine ants are commonly found inside homes because that is where they find warmth, food, and water, which is why you may see them in your kitchen or bathroom. They eat sweet foods, including egg yolks, syrups, juices, dead insects, and byproducts like feces and vomit.

These ants are also known for their ability to join forces with other colonies, producing super colonies that can be aggressive toward more native insects and that pose a larger threat of infestation in your home due to the sheer amount of ants. These ants do not sting but they can bite, although, just like little black ants, they’re small enough that their bite doesn’t cause much harm to humans. 

Signs of an ant infestation

No matter what species you have around your home, there are some common signs of an ant infestation that can include: 

  • Ant trails or lines of ants
  • Ant mounds around your property 
  • Ants in your trees
  • Groups of ants on your countertops

Most ants do not cause damage to your home (except carpenter ants) or harm to people (except fire ants). An ant infestation can be unsanitary, though, and can contaminate your food. Learn more about how to get rid of any existing ant infestations and colonies below and find some more tips to prevent them from coming back.

How do I get rid of ants in my house?

There are some home remedies you can try if you suspect an ant infestation or want to prevent them in the first place.

  • Keep your home clean of crumbs and discard leftover food or store dry foods in closed containers
  • Seal cracks in your walls or crevices in your floorboards with caulk or other sealants 
  • Eliminate water sources and harborage areas

If you have an infestation or you think there are colonies surrounding your home, a professional pest control service like Hawx may be the best option for ant control and removal of large nests surrounding your property.

Get $150 Off Ant Service

Read more about ants

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A Guide to Pharaoh Ants

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Turn to Hawx Pest Control for quality solutions today! Contact us and let us inspect your problem in order to get started. We proudly serve cities throughout the country, including: DallasSan AntonioHouston SouthHouston NorthChicagoSt. LouisIndianapolisSalt Lake City, and Cincinnati.

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