Ants

Ants Identification Guide

Physical Characteristics

Ants are small insects with three distinct body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen. They have six legs, bent antennae, and powerful mandibles for carrying food and defending their colony. Most ants range from 1/16 to 1/2 inch in size, depending on the species. While many are black or brown, some species can have red, yellow, or even metallic-colored bodies.

Common Species

• Odorous House Ants - Small, dark brown to black ants that emit a rotten coconut smell when crushed.

• Pavement Ants - Brown to black ants that build nests in cracks of sidewalks and foundations.

• Carpenter Ants - Large black ants that can cause structural damage by hollowing out wood to build nests.

• Acrobat Ants - Small, reddish-brown ants that raise their heart-shaped abdomens when disturbed.

Ants Behavior and Biology

Ants are social insects that live in colonies with a caste system consisting of workers, soldiers, and queens. The colony can grow to massive numbers, ranging from a few dozen to millions. Ants communicate using pheromones, creating scent trails to food sources. Depending on the species, they may nest underground, in wood, or inside walls. Some ants, like carpenter ants, can be particularly destructive, tunneling through wood and weakening structures over time.

How We Treat for Ants

We take a two-step approach to eliminate ants and keep them from coming back:

• Initial Treatment - A licensed technician inspects the interior and exterior of the home, identifying hotspots like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. We apply a non-repellent insecticide in cracks and crevices so ants spread the material throughout their colony, eliminating it at the source. A perimeter treatment is applied outside, creating a barrier around your home.

• Ongoing Maintenance - Because most ant control products break down in about 90 days, we return quarterly for maintenance treatments, reinforcing the barrier and preventing reinfestation. If you ever notice ants between visits, we provide free unlimited callbacks to retreat the issue at no additional cost.