Ant Identification

What are ants?

A problem both inside and outside our structures, ants are not a pest you want to tangle with regularly. Ants are insects; they are social by nature and invade properties in large numbers. Within every ant colony, there are three groups of ants — queens, males, and workers. Queens and males are responsible for producing new ants, and workers (sterile females) are responsible for maintaining the nest, gathering food, and protecting the colony from danger.

Species of ants that live in the West Palm Beach area include:

• Acrobat Ants
• Big-headed ants
• Carpenter ants
• Crazy ants
• Fire ants
• Ghost ants
• Odorous house ants
• Pharaoh ants
• White-footed ants

Are ants dangerous?

In most cases, ants don’t pose a significant danger to people or properties. However, they are certainly a nuisance to deal with and cause problems like contaminating food, spreading bacteria to surfaces, and damaging garden plants. In our area, big-headed ants, odorous house ants, and white-footed ants are nuisance ants.

However, our area is also home to truly dangerous ants. Fire ants deliver painful and venom-filled stings to people and pets. They are short-tempered, aggressive, attack in groups, and their venom can trigger serious allergic reactions. Pharaoh ants spread things like salmonella and streptococcus that can make people very ill. Inside hospitals, these ants seek moisture from patients’ eyes, mouths, wounds, and IV bags.

Why do I have an ant problem?

Ants become a problem on properties that offer them food and water. Their sole mission is to ensure their colony is fed and taken care of. Their colonies are large, and once they set their sights on a property, they are difficult to control. If you see ants trailing through your yard, garden, or kitchen, there is a nest nearby.

Ants nesting in your yard or on a nearby property are attracted to areas of moisture and food odors. Things like leaky pipes, clogged gutters, overwater gardens, open trash cans, and outdoor eating areas can easily attract ants to your yard, where they will eventually find their way inside.

Where will I find ants?

Most ant species do like to nest outside, but those nesting near homes and other structures often find a way inside while out foraging for food. Once inside, they may decide to build a satellite nest in an area that provides protection and allows them easy access to food and moisture — usually wall voids near pipes, sinks, or tubs.

Some species of ants prefer to live mainly outside. Fire ants build their nests in the ground of open sunny areas, making them a particular problem in our yards. Other species like Pharaoh ants have adapted to mainly live indoors, where they have become a massive issue inside structures that handle and store food like hospitals, schools, grocery stores, hotels, and our homes.

How do I get rid of ants?

To get rid of the current problems you are experiencing with ants, reach out to the experts at Empire Pest Defense. We will protect your home or business from ants and other pests through detailed inspections, effective interior, and exterior treatments, and on-going services.

Empire Pest Defense is a local company with a deep commitment to our community and providing our customers with top-notch services. All of our technicians are licensed, insured, trained, and dedicated to helping West Palm Beach home and business owners keep their properties free of pests. Contact us today and learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services and how to eliminate ants from your property once and for all!

How can I prevent ants in the future?

Avoid problems with ants with the help of the professionals at Empire Pest Defense, our effective pest control solutions, and our practical prevention tips:

• Eliminate moisture from your home that attracts ants. Fix leaky pipes, check for leaks under sinks, and use dehumidifiers to keep basements dry.
• If you spot a trail of ants traveling toward your home, follow it to see where they are entering. Close off the entry points that are allowing ants inside.
• Regularly inspect the exterior of your home, repairing cracks in the foundation, placing weatherstripping around windows and doors, and installing door sweeps on exterior doors.
• Make your kitchen less attractive to foraging ants by regularly sweeping floors, wiping down counters, and cleaning up leftover food.
• Make your yard less attractive to ants by cleaning up debris like fallen trees, brush piles, woodpiles, and taking away food sources like keeping lids on trash cans, compost bins, and recycling bins. Regularly harvest gardens and pick up uneaten pet food.

Learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services.