Ants

What are ants?

Two of the more common species of ants living throughout Connecticut are the carpenter ant and odorous house ant. The carpenter ant is one of the largest species of ant to invade structures throughout the United States. The odorous house ant is one of the most common ants to invade our homes, and you can identify them by the rotten coconut-like odor they emit when crushed.

Are ants dangerous?

Dangerous ants are those that can damage a building's structural integrity, such as carpenter ants, or ants that spread diseases or deliver painful bites and stings. However, most of the ants that we come into contact with, including the odorous house ant, are simply nuisance ants. Nuisance ants don't cause us any real problems above the general issues ants cause, such as contaminating food and surfaces with bacteria, being an annoyance, and being difficult to get rid of.

Why do I have an ant problem?

Our yards and homes have things that ants use to make their life more comfortable like places to nest, food to feed their colonies, and plenty of moisture to take advantage of. Ants are omnivores and feed on many of the same food we consume. They won't hesitate to take advantage of an open trash can, a bowl of pet food, crumbs on the floor, or spilled juice on the counter.

After ants have discovered a suitable food source, they leave behind a pheromone trail to alert the other colony members. Pheromone trails are why you often see long lines of ants traveling along the ground either inside or outside your home.

Where will I find ants?

The preferred nesting location of an ant will depend on its specific species:

• The carpenter ant create nesting galleries within wood. Outside they nest in things like tree stumps, fallen trees, and decaying wooden fences. Those ants that have found a way inside while foraging for food may decide to stay and nest inside structural wood behind walls and under floors. Carpenter ants prefer wood damaged by water. You'll often find water-damaged wood near leaking pipes, along the roofline, or around windows and doors.
• Odorous house ants like to nest outside in the ground in damp soil. They usually build nests under logs, mulch, rocks, landscape ties, woodpiles, and brush piles. When these ants move inside and decide to stay and create an indoor satellite nest, they usually do so in areas with a lot of moisture like spaces near heaters, water pipes, and under floors and carpets.

How do I get rid of ants?

At Rescue 1 Pest & Termite Control, we know the species of ants that live in our area and understand how to get them out and keep them out of Connecticut homes and businesses. Our professionals work with our home and business owners to discover all their nesting areas, perform effective treatments, and provide the recurring services needed to maintain an ant-free property.

To learn more about keeping ants out of your home with the help of our residential or commercial pest control services, contact us today and speak with one of our helpful professionals!

How can I prevent ants in the future?

Prevent problems with ants and other pests with the following prevention tips and the comprehensive pest control services at Rescue 1 Pest & Termite Control:

• Stop ants from roaming around your home by preventing them from finding a way inside. Seal any spaces discovered in the foundation or exterior walls.
• Get rid of the moisture that attracts many ants by fixing leaky pipes, repairing clogged gutters, and replacing damaged weatherstripping.
• Eliminate access to food by keeping lids on trash cans, picking up the food your pets don't finish, harvesting fruits and vegetables from gardens, and cleaning up spills and crumbs.
• Get rid of debris from your yard that ants nest under, such as brush piles, leaf piles, old woodpiles, tree stumps, and fallen trees.
• If you see a trail of ants wandering toward your home, see where they are entering and seal any spaces you discover in your home's exterior.

Learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in New Haven.