Ant Pest Control
Ants are probably the most common pests in Texas. They are small insects that belong to the same family as wasps and bees and are known for their ability to communicate, cooperate and work together in colonies. What this means is wherever you find a single ant, you can be sure there are hundreds more around the corner.
Characteristics of ants
Some key characteristics of ants include:
- Appearance: Ants are usually small insects but they can grow as long as one inch in length, with tiny waists which sits between their thorax and abdomen. Some are regarded as queens or drones because they have wings, which indicate their fertility, and can be black, brown, red, or yellow in color.
- Diet: Ants are omnivores in nature, typically eating nectar, seeds, fungus, and other insects. But when they invade your home, they are likely to want a share of your food especially if they are made of sugar. Some ant species such as soldier ants have unusual diets such as reptiles, birds, or small mammals.
- Colonies: Ants tend to live in large groups called colonies, and these colonies are made up of the queen that is responsible for laying eggs and worker ants whose major task is to forage for food, and take care of the queen’s offspring, including protecting the colony.
Common ant pests in Texas
Texas is home to a diverse array of ant species and their presence can be a pain as they usually work in groups, here are some of the most common ant pests in Texas:
1. Fire ants: These red and black ants best known for their really painful stings tend to easily invade your Texas home in search of food and water and build large mounds outdoors.
2. Carpenter ants: You would think these ants eat wood because of their names but contrary to that, these ants (usually black in color) don’t actually eat wood, but they drill through your expensive wooden furniture to create their nests causing significant damage in the process.
3. Pharaoh ants: Tiny and difficult to control. These tiny yellow ants are often found in the warm, humid environments of Texas residential areas and they tend to invade kitchens and bathrooms. They usually have large colonies.
4. Argentine ants: These small, dark brown ants originated from Argentina, and are now spread out across different parts of the world. These ants invade your home and are likely disease carriers as they are known to crawl disgusting areas like dead animals, sewage, or trash while looking for food.
5. Odorous house ants: These small, black ants invade your food storage, kitchen, pantry, and anywhere your food is stored. When they are killed especially when crushed they release a strong, pungent odor. Something that smells like a rotten coconut-like smell.
6. Acrobat ants: These ants like to live in ready made nests created by other insects like termites and their cousins the carpenter ants. They don’t live with these other insects but instead, they clean out abandoned or damaged nests by these other insects and build their home inside. They are often seen hanging upside down from ceilings and walls and can be found indoors and outdoors.
7. Pavement ants: These ants originated in Europe are known for their nesting behavior under pavements. Usually small dark brown to blackish ants, they can be found under building foundations, sidewalks, pavements, and patios.
8. Texas Leafcutter Ants: These large, reddish-brown ants are known for their unique habit of cutting leaves and carrying them back to their nests. They can defoliate trees and shrubs, causing damage to landscaping.
Tips for Preventing Ant Infestations:
- Seal up cracks and entry points around your home.
- Keep food tightly sealed and clean up spills promptly.
- Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
- Trim tree branches and other vegetation away from your home.
- Treat ant mounds outdoors with approved baits or insecticides.
How to get rid of ants
To get rid of ants, you can try several effective methods. Baking soda or borax can be mixed with honey and water to create a homemade ant bait trap. Place the mixture in a shallow container and position it where you often find ants in your home.
If you are having a problem with ants, it is always best to consult with a professional pest control company like us. We can identify the type of ant you are dealing with and recommend the best treatment options.