Ants will travel a wide range searching for food. They follow trails they have established and cluster around the source of food, causing them to become a nuisance in homes, organizations, and businesses. Garden and black house ants aren’t known to carry diseases, but you don’t know where they’ve been, so you won’t want them marching through your food cupboards.
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Ants vary in size, shape, and color depending on the species, but all have three main body sections: the head, thorax, and abdomen. They have elbowed antennae and a pinched waist, and their colors range from black and brown to yellow and red. While ants often look similar, close identification can help pinpoint the exact species, which is crucial for proper control.
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There are over 12,000 ant species found on the planet. Below are a few of the most common ones found in residential areas.
Black house ants (Ochetellus) feed on oil, grease, meat, fruits, vegetables, and sweets. They are often found in kitchens on messy countertops and around garbage.
Carpenter ants (Camponotus) are among the largest ant species and are very difficult to control. They are often found traveling via structural guidelines on a building's exterior.
Ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) feed on sweet substances and grease. They nest in small spaces, wall voids, and flowerpots, and are attracted to areas high in moisture.
Odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) are very common and found throughout the United States. Their nests are usually outdoors, but they will travel long distances for food and water.
Pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum), like their namesake, build mounds along sidewalks and driveways. They also nest in lawns and under stones, wood, and boards.
The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is a nuisance to homeowners in southern states. They will sting humans in large numbers when their nest is disturbed.
No matter what type of ant you encounter, there are a few things you need to know about ants that are consistent across the board.
Ants are opportunistic nesters, meaning they will create nests in various locations that meet their needs, including the soil around a home’s foundation and in void spaces inside the structure. Some ant species relocate their nests every few months or in response to weather conditions like rain. Still, other species have multiple nests and sometimes split their nests when there is a chemical or physical disturbance. In some cases, ants may overwinter in hidden spaces within a home, remaining active throughout the year.
Ants undergo a complete metamorphosis, including egg, larva, pupa, and adult life stages. The entire process can take up to 60 days to complete. Some ant colonies can reach well over 100,000 members, while some queens can survive up to 30 years. Depending on the ant species, a colony can contain more than one queen, and each queen can lay thousands of eggs.
Ants are one of nature’s most active scavengers. They will eat anything humans eat, and their dietary requirements shift based on the species, seasons, and needs of the colony. In particular, on the outside they prefer to feed on sugary foods such as honeydew excreted by aphids and scale insects. Most species of ants are omnivorous, feeding on just about everything, but some species feed exclusively on plants.
Ants may seem harmless, but they can present several issues when they invade indoor and outdoor spaces.
Certain ant species can carry bacteria, posing a health risk by contaminating food and surfaces. Pharaoh ants, for example, are known to transmit pathogens, particularly in hospitals and healthcare settings, where they can spread bacteria.
Additionally, fire ants sting, which can create reactions from localized itching and swelling to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Some ants, like carpenter ants, can cause significant structural damage. These ants don’t eat wood like termites but excavate it to create nesting spaces. Over time, their tunneling can weaken the integrity of wood structures, causing costly damage if left untreated.
Ants can be a persistent nuisance, especially when they establish trails throughout a home. Their pheromone trails can attract more ants, creating unsightly trails and raising the difficulty of controlling them. Ants are also known for appearing in large numbers, which can be alarming and frustrating to homeowners.
Some species of ants bite. All ant species have mandibles on the front of their heads that are used to tear apart food and take it back to their nest. Certain species of ants will use these mandibles to bite if they feel threatened, like the red imported fire ants and carpenter ants.
Ants are usually entering your home through small openings, cracks in the foundation, drains, holes or openings in exterior walls made for venting or cables, or underneath doorways. Check these areas for frequent ant activity and ant trails.
A trained professional can also find the places where ants are getting in or likely to get in. Then they'll provide a treatment plan to get rid of the nest and prevent further infestations.
Vinegar could potentially kill ants if sprayed directly on them, however, there wouldn’t be much efficacy in terms of a residual that will kill the ants. Vinegar actually has a pretty weak chemical bond, so it really does not leave much residue after it evaporates.
Also, since vinegar is a diluted acetic acid, we do not recommend spraying it on surfaces such as natural stone, waxed wood, hardwoods, cast iron, or aluminum, as it could damage or stain the finish.
Ants communicate using smells and scents called pheromones, so any product that would disrupt their pheromone trails would be something that ants wouldn’t like.
Smells that deter ants can vary widely depending on the species. Some DIY solutions can actually exacerbate existing problems. However, any product that "may" repel ants will not last long as a residual. The best solution when dealing with ants is the use of baits, so contacting a pest control provider as soon as possible is key!
The best way to get rid of ants in your house is to work with us to have them removed. The ants that you see in your home are only 1%-5% of the entire ant colony, so DIY methods will not eliminate the entire infestation. Most DIY methods only work to remove the ants temporarily, and before you know it, you’ll have ants coming back into your home.
Our ant removal methods will get to the root of the problem. Your specialist will find where ants are entering your home and where they are nesting. They will then work to remove the entire colony, leaving your house ant-free.
Highly social insects: Ants live in large colonies that can include thousands of members, each with a specific role, including workers, soldiers, and the queen.
Remarkable strength: Ants can carry 10-50 times their body weight, depending on the species. This strength helps them transport food and nest-building materials.
Communication through pheromones: Ants communicate primarily by releasing pheromones, which help guide other ants to food sources and alert them to danger.
Complex lifecycles: Ants undergo complete metamorphosis, developing from egg to larva, pupa, and adult, with the entire cycle taking up to 60 days.
Diverse diets: Ants are omnivores, meaning they eat a wide variety of foods, including sweets, proteins, and plant matter, which makes them highly adaptable to various environments.
Ants are extremely active and organized creatures. Worker ants spend their days foraging for food, creating and maintaining nests, caring for larvae, and protecting the colony. They follow pheromone trails left by others to find food sources and bring sustenance back to the nest. While workers handle the essential tasks of the colony, the queen focuses on laying eggs to ensure the colony’s growth and longevity. The highly coordinated activities of ants ensure the survival and success of their colony.
Ants are drawn primarily to food and moisture sources. They can be especially attracted to sugary foods, including fruit, honey, and household spills. Improperly stored food and food residue left on countertops or floors can attract ants. Moist environments, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, provide the conditions that some ant species, like odorous house ants, prefer. Pet food, garbage, and even small crumbs are strong attractions for foraging ants looking to support their colony.
Ants have a broad and adaptable diet, as most are omnivores. They consume sugary substances like honeydew from aphids and are particularly drawn to human foods like sugary foods, fats, and proteins. Protein sources, including small insects, help support colony growth and development. While the diet varies by species, ants generally forage for whatever food is most accessible, making them versatile feeders capable of adapting to different habitats and food availability.
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