Ant Control Burlington

Most of us tend to look at ants in a generic manner, failing to understand that the solution to tackling an ant infestation is hidden in the specific species they belong to. However, the truth is that ants are of different types and have very different traits, and every detail associated with them, from their dietary pattern to their nesting habits are all in line with the type they belong to.

In North America, there are several types of ants that have gained notoriety as household pests. The list includes Pavement Ants, Thief Ants, Larger Yellow Ants, Argentine Ants, the Odorous House Ants, Carpenter Ants such as the Black Carpenter Ants and Florida Carpenter Ants and Fire Ants such as the Red Imported Ants Fire and Little Fire Ants.

As far as their behavior in line with human habitat is concerned, some ants like Odorous House Ants and even Carpenter Ants nest within households and forage there while others like Pavement Ants live outside but venture indoors for foraging.

While ants are not particularly invasive and definitely not threatening in their behavior, they do tend to overwhelm us with their numbers. While they mostly stay out of our way, the fact that they do tend to cross our paths while in search of food or even to set up their colonies, sometimes leaves us with no option but to get rid of them.

Carpenter Ants

At Pest Control Burlington we make sure that ants are taken care of. Carpenter ants are one of the most notorious ant species that invade residential and commercial properties. They build their nest in damp wood and are well known for establishing their colonies in the insides of homes causing significant damage.   

The worker ants that belong to the various species of carpenter ants in North America measure about 6 millimeters in length while the queen ant can measure up to 19 millimeters in length. Their colors can range from red to even black. Their colonies are known to house a staggering amount of around 2000 ants. Since carpenter ants prefer to nest in damp wood, they can be mostly round in wet areas of a home. The wood that they use to tunnel their way in can actually weaken a structure over time when the carpenter ants problem is not addressed. A carpenter ant infestation should, therefore, be resolved as soon as possible. Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants do not actually eat the wood. Instead, they just dig through the wood to dig intricate galleries. In late spring, and early summer, winged adults are produced by mature Carpenter ant colonies.

Carpenter ants nest mostly in wood, but they also might find their way in fiberglass, polystyrene insulation, and other insulating material that have not to be treated to resist an ant attack. Carpenter ants may cause structural damage to your house over time. Satellite colonies, unlike the main colony, do not restrict themselves to just damp wood. These ants do not eat wood, so instead, you might find particles right beneath the entry point that resembles wood dust.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants measure around 3 millimeters in length and are dark brown to black in color. The average pavement ant colony houses about 3000 to 4000 ants. Along with that, it has two queens. As the name might imply, pavement ants can be found under pavements, driveways, sidewalks, the area beneath slabs and patios are all favorite colony locations for the pavement ant. The outdoor diet consists of seeds, insects, honeydew, and honey while indoors, they can feed on generally anything. They prefer nuts, cheese, and meat though.

Odorous House Ant

The Odorous House Ant owes its name to the rotten smell it gives off when stepped on. It has a peculiar rotten smell. These ants can have sizes ranging from 1.5-3mm in length and can sport a brown or black color. These ants are omnivorous and feed on dead insects. Indoors, their diet takes a turn as they prefer more sugary foods. Outdoors these ants are quite adventurous as they build nests under debris, stones, logs, or even soil. Indoors, they prefer cracks in the floor or even on the walls. This species is very social and can grow to 100,000 in a single colony.

Fire Ants 

Red imported fire ants are notorious for their stings, and people often avoid their nest to avoid being attacked. These ants look quite threatening because of the dark red or brownish color. They can measure between 3 and 9 millimeters in length. Most of their colonies are found outdoors, although there are instances where they can venture indoors to forage food. Their stings are known to be very painful and can even result in allergic reactions. With that said, these ants are not able to transmit or carry any serious diseases. However they can be considered a nuisance do to their nesting habits and their ability to hurt people.