Ants are amongst the most populous creatures on earth. With almost 16,000 identified species, you can be sure to have come across a lot of them. Apart from having a large number of species, ants also live in colonies. Human homes provide them with a lot of comfort and food, and as such, you can see them marking in a single file in different areas of the home. Ant infestations are often referred to as ant invasions due to how large their colonies are. If you are dealing with an ant invasion in your home, it is important to identify what species of ants they are. This will help you to put in place a proper control measure. This article highlights some of the common ants found in homes. Check out here.
Ants Found In Homes
- Odorous House Ants: Odorous house ants are arguably the most common ants found in a lot of homes. These ants are either black or dark brown. Odorous house ants are mostly found in the kitchen moving on the floorboards or counters. Their name comes from the unpleasant and weird odor that comes off after they are crushed. The smell is likened to a rotten coconut by some. These ants come into the home for food, or warmth in cold conditions. In the home, odorous house ants feed on dead insects and sugary foods.
- Ghost Ants: Ghost ants are similar to odorous house ants, in the sense that they also give an unpleasant odor when crushed. These ants enter homes in search of food and can be found taking shelter in flower pots and baseboards. Their name comes from their body anatomy. They have very pale abdomen and legs which cannot be spotted quickly, with the rest of their body taking on a dark complexion.
- Pavement Ants: Pavement ants earned their name from the locations that they inhabit, as they are usually found under rocks and on sidewalks. Pavement ants come into homes, to eat food such as meat, sugary snacks, and greasy food. They usually come into homes during spring and summer.
- Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants are very large ants, which are typically black or dark brown. They are called carpenter ants because they prefer living in the wood. Seeing a carpenter ant in your home is not a good sign as it indicates that there is decaying wood somewhere. While they are usually not responsible for the initial damage, carpenter ants worsen the condition of the wood.
- Argentine Ants: Argentine ants are also known as sugar ants. As their name suggests, sugar ants are attracted to sweet food in the home. Apart from food, they also seek shelter in the home during the rainy season.
- Fire Ants: Fire ants are small red ants that are aggressive. Although they typically live in mounds outdoor, they also enter homes to find food sometimes. A fire ant sting is usually very painful.
If you identify any of these ants in your home, contact a pest control company to handle them.
