Types of Ants in Virginia
There are many types of nuisance ants that can invade homes; the most common types of ants in Virginia are:
They can be identified by the worker ants’ ability to hold their abdomen up over the rest of their body. Adults are brown, black, yellow, or multi-colored and range in length from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch. They have a unique heart-shaped abdomen that is darker in color than the rest of their body segments.
Pharaoh Ants are small. The adults grow only to be 1/16th of an inch in length. They are amber or yellow and have black, dark brown or red markings on their abdomen. They live in extremely large colonies with hundreds of queens and thousands of workers.
Odorous ants get their name from the rotten coconut smell that they give off when they are crushed. They are black or brownish and the adults range in length from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch.
Pavement ants are black or brown and the adults grow to be about 1/8th of an inch in length. Their legs and antennae are lighter in color than their body. They often nest under or in the cracks of pavement and concrete.
Nuisance Ant Facts
Nuisance ants invade homes while searching for sources of food and water. These little bugs enter into homes through cracks in foundations, exterior walls, gaps around windows and doors, and through spaces around utility entrances.
Nuisance ants do not damage homes or cause physical harm to people.
They most often create their nests outdoors but may create colonies under floors, behind walls, in insulation, and behind appliances.
Signs of an Ant Problem
The most common sign of an ant problem is finding the actual ants marching through your home as they search for food and water. Ants eat many of the same foods that people eat including sweets, meats, starches and liquids. Once they identify easy access to a food source they will keep returning until the food runs out or they are stopped.
Nuisance Ant Control
Though nuisance ants are not destructive like carpenter ants, they can make life a bit harder. At Mitchell Pest Services, we understand homeowners don't want to see a line of ants marching across the kitchen floor or worse, crawling over their food. If you've found yourself dealing with this kind of situation, simply contact us. Our home pest control services are designed to eradicate all types of ants common to Virginia and will also help keep other common household pests out! And if you own or operate a business, we have a solution for your company as well. Visit our commercial pest control page to learn more.
How Do You Prevent Nuisance Ants?
Although utilizing a professional pest service is the best and most complete way to control nuisance ants, there are many things that you can do to prevent nuisance ants from taking over your home and property.
- Reduce areas of moisture in and around your home by sealing cracks and crevices in the foundation.
- Caulk gaps around windows and doors
- Install doors sweeps
- Fix open areas around utility entrances
- Trim trees and bushes back from the exterior of your home
- All trash needs to be kept in cans with secure fitting lids and removed on a regular basis.
- Inside your home, immediately clean up spills and crumbs and store food in containers with tight fitting lids or in the refrigerator.
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