Ants - Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants are among the most conspicuous of ants found in and around homes, being large and typically blackish or reddish depending on geographical location. Foraging workers have rather large mandibles with which they can bite or give a strong pinch. Workers vary greatly in size from 1/4 to about 3/4-inch long.

Carpenter ants will establish nests in a number of different locations. Outdoor sites include stumps, hollow logs, telephone poles, fence posts or other similar large pieces of wood. Wood that is moist or partially decayed is preferred by many species, especially in the northeastern United States; however cracks, crevices and other cavities may be used to start a nest in sound wood. Ants may be carried into homes in firewood or enter and establish colonies via other routes. Often ants move into a building solely to feed.

Carpenter ants excavate nest galleries in wood. These galleries somewhat resemble the work of termites but can be distinguished by their entirely clean and almost sandpapered appearance. They are frequently hollowed in moist or sound wood. Carpenter ants do not use wood for food. Carpenter ants cut galleries with the wood but will cut across to create new galleries. The Carpenter ant diet includes a great variety of both animal and plant foods. These ants will feed on other insects, living or dead, and nearly anything people eat. Aphid honeydew is particularly attractive and they have been known to protect aphids from other insects.

Foraging ants will travel 100 yards or more from the nest for food. Carpenter ants are of economic importance because of the damage they do to structures, the food they contaminate .

Ants - Pharaoh Ant

Pharaoh ants are light yellowish to reddish brown in color, with workers measuring 1/15 to 1/12-inch long. They are found in localized regions throughout most of the United States and parts of southern Canada. They have become the most common pest in many areas. Pharaoh ants can be easily distinguished from thief ants by the presence of three segments in the antenna club. They are an important ant pest in the homes, hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities. Their small sizes enables them to get into most anything, and their very wide food preferences combine to make pharaoh ants difficult to eliminate from structures in many cases.

Nests are rarely found but occur between walls, under floors, above ceilings, behind baseboards and switch plates, in old trash, in folded bathroom linens, or outside in gardens along walks. Pharaoh ants nest on porous substrates in warm places near furnaces, heating ducts, and hot water pipes that are also near moist conditions or open water sources. Ants range widely from their nests, usually over established trails marked by pheromones. Workers are frequently seen trailing along windowsills, counter tops and baseboards. In the warmer climates of the southern United States pharaoh ants are frequently found foraging and nesting outside of buildings or adjacent landscaping.

Pharaoh ants will feed on such a diverse array of materials that use of the term food preferences seems inappropriate. However, substances like syrups, fruit juices, honey, jelly, cakes, pies, greases, dead insects, or meats and blood are frequent fed on. In hospitals, they will often feed on blood or other bodily fluids, medical waste, or intravenous feeding fluids.

Even though several very effective bait formulations are available for pharaoh ant control, this ant can be very persistent and difficult to control. It has a tendency to appear suddenly in various places within a structure. Attempts to control this species with spray or dust applications, or the occurrence of other forms of stress on the colony or colonies, will frequently cause the colonies to split into sub-colonies that scatter to other locations with the structure. This behavioral process is called budding and is commonly observed in this species.

Ants - Argentine Ant

The Argentine ant is a severe pest in the southern United States and in California (and in many parts of the world) In areas of heavy infestations it may be found in every home. Workers are 1/12 to 1/8 inch long and are light to dark brown in color. Nests are typically located in moist soil next to or under the buildings, along sidewalks or beneath boards and plantsh. They usually nest near their food source. Occassionaly these ants may nest within a structure or other locations not considered soil related.

Argentine ants prefer sweet foods, principally sugars, syrup, fruit juices secretions of plants and honeydew. Workers are very aggressive and often eliminate other ants in the area. Effective control is often difficult for professional pest control companies within the first 6 months to 1 year. If you suspect that you have this ant do not spray them! Argentine ants use a budding system and spraying workers will cause the colony to bud into satellite colonies. Eliminating the nests is the only effective way to control this ant.