Ants
Ants are social insects and are one of the most common pests in and around your home. Being social insects, ants have a caste system that is divided into workers, males and queens.
Ants have an estimated 22,000 species throughout the world, and more than 12,500 species have been classified.
Since ants are social insects, they construct sophisticated colonies or nests which are constantly maintained by the worker ants. These nests give the ants’ protection from extreme weather, protection from their enemies and, are established close to their food and water sources. Ants live outside under stones, along curbing, under sidewalks, in rotted wood and tress. They enter a home by climbing up the foundation, through cracks in the foundation, climbing up trees and plants that are touching the home, or by just walking across utility lines that are attached to the home. Once they enter our homes, they are in search of food and water. Ants are not finicky, although they love honey dew which is a sweet liquid produced by aphids, they will eat starches, meats, fats and sweets. Once these delicacies are found the ant will lay down a pheromone; pheromones are scents that ants use to tell the other ants where there food and water are located, they also use pheromones to alert the others of impending dangers. Ants are primarily a nuisance pest and cause little damage, except for one species of ant; the carpenter ant will do the same type of damage as termites when they nest in a home! In New Jersey, we deal with seven species of ants: acrobat, carpenter ant, citronella, pavement, odorous, pharaoh (sugar ant).
Ants are social insects and are one of the most common pests in and around your home. Being social insects, ants have a caste system that is divided into workers, males and queens.
Ants have an estimated 22,000 species throughout the world, and more than 12,500 species have been classified.
Since ants are social insects, they construct sophisticated colonies or nests which are constantly maintained by the worker ants. These nests give the ants’ protection from extreme weather, protection from their enemies and, are established close to their food and water sources. Ants live outside under stones, along curbing, under sidewalks, in rotted wood and tress. They enter a home by climbing up the foundation, through cracks in the foundation, climbing up trees and plants that are touching the home, or by just walking across utility lines that are attached to the home. Once they enter our homes, they are in search of food and water. Ants are not finicky, although they love honey dew which is a sweet liquid produced by aphids, they will eat starches, meats, fats and sweets. Once these delicacies are found the ant will lay down a pheromone; pheromones are scents that ants use to tell the other ants where there food and water are located, they also use pheromones to alert the others of impending dangers. Ants are primarily a nuisance pest and cause little damage, except for one species of ant; the carpenter ant will do the same type of damage as termites when they nest in a home! In New Jersey, we deal with seven species of ants: acrobat, carpenter ant, citronella, pavement, odorous, pharaoh (sugar ant).
Acrobat Ants - Acrobat ants have the ability to hold their abdomen over their head and thorax when disturbed. They will wonder into home by walking across utility lines that are attached to the home or by climbing up tree branches that are touching a home. Once they find their direct route, entrance to a home could be through cracks and crevices under a window frame, door thresholds or any other opening. Once inside they will nest in wall voids, or damp wood that has been subject to high moisture or fungal decay. Once indoors, they will feed on a variety of sweets and proteins. Acrobat ants range in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch; their color ranges from black to dark brown
Carpenter Ants - Carpenter ants are the most common ant seen in homes throughout the Northern United States. The main colony located outdoors in dead limbs, tree holes, stumps, rail road ties, need moisture to survive. Carpenter ants can travel over 300 feet from their original nest to set-up and establish a satellite nest in our homes. They enter our homes through cracks and crevices in our foundations, by walking across utility lines that are attached to our homes, or by just walking across tree branches that are touching the roof. When a stray carpenter ant enters the home and moisture is found from a water leak, wet basement, poorly vented crawl space or leak in the attic a satellite nest is formed. These nests can be located in hollow doors, curtain rods, and wet wood that they will excavate galleries in wood which will resemble termite damage. Carpenter ants feed on a wide variety of foods, especially other insects. The favored food of adults is the sweet honeydew produced by plant-feeding insects, such as aphids, scales, and mealy bugs. In the spring, mature colonies produce winged reproductive ants, called swarmer’s, that fly out to start new colonies. These swarms often occur from satellite colonies within homes, so homeowners may see large flying ants in their homes at night. Carpenter ants range in size from ¼ to over ¾ of an inch; their color ranges from dull black to a combination of black and red or brown.
Citronella Ants - The citronella ant gets its name from citronella odor they emit when threatened. They feed on honeydew produced by aphids. The citronella ants both the larger and smaller species are found throughout the United States, but are more common in the eastern parts of the United States. In both the large and small species, the swarmer’s vary in color from a light yellow to a more darker-reddish yellow. The citronella ant ranges in size from a ¼ to 3/16 of an inch long. They tend to nest in open wood, gardens, and lawns and next to foundations. Citronella ant swarms may occur at any time of the year in and around the home.
Odorous House Ant - The odorous house ant gets its name from the rotten coconut smell it gives off when crushed. These tiny ants range in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. Like other ants, the odorous house ant like sweets and honey dew. Their nests are located both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, their nests are usually shallow and found under a board or stone; indoors, they nest in walls and under floors.
Pavement Ants - are small ranging in size from 1/8 to 1/6 of an inch. The pavement
ant gets its name from making their nests in or under cracks in pavement. The pavement ant ranges in color from dark brown to black. Pavement ants love to eat a wide variety of foods from seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, to nuts and cheeses. They will travel a distance up to 30 feet to forage for food, and have been seen climbing up masonry walls to enter a structure.Once in the structure, pavement ants most likely will be found on the ground level of the structure, but they can also be found nesting in walls, under insulation and under flooring. Outside, pavement ants nest under stones, cracks in the pavement and next to buildings.
ant gets its name from making their nests in or under cracks in pavement. The pavement ant ranges in color from dark brown to black. Pavement ants love to eat a wide variety of foods from seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, to nuts and cheeses. They will travel a distance up to 30 feet to forage for food, and have been seen climbing up masonry walls to enter a structure.Once in the structure, pavement ants most likely will be found on the ground level of the structure, but they can also be found nesting in walls, under insulation and under flooring. Outside, pavement ants nest under stones, cracks in the pavement and next to buildings.
Pharaoh Ants (Sugar Ants) - Pharaoh ants were first thought to come from Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs. Pharaoh ants can be found throughout the United
States. They are light yellow to reddish brown and range from 1/15 to ½ inch long.
Pharaoh ants are an important ant pest in homes, hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. Inside, they nest in warm, humid areas of the structure close to food and water. Their nests usually are found in areas that are inaccessible like wall voids, behind baseboards, under floors and in furniture. To travel from place to place in the interior of the structure, pharaoh ants use electrical and telephone wires as a highway to move through walls and floors. Outside, pharaoh ants can be found under debris in shaded areas.
States. They are light yellow to reddish brown and range from 1/15 to ½ inch long.
Pharaoh ants are an important ant pest in homes, hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes. Inside, they nest in warm, humid areas of the structure close to food and water. Their nests usually are found in areas that are inaccessible like wall voids, behind baseboards, under floors and in furniture. To travel from place to place in the interior of the structure, pharaoh ants use electrical and telephone wires as a highway to move through walls and floors. Outside, pharaoh ants can be found under debris in shaded areas.
