Household Ants

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Household Ants

Household Ants

Ant problems are the most frequent type of inquiry that we receive. Ants in Georgia are almost a year round problem, and are a nuisance both indoors and outdoors. There are so many types of ants in Georgia that it takes entomology training tell the difference between species of ants. In addition to being ants generally being a nuisance, species such as fire ants can cause severe medical problems and even death to pets and people.

Georgia Ant Identification

There are several kinds of ants that may occur in and around the home ranging in size from about 1/32 to 3/4 inch long and colored yellowish, light brown, reddish-brown, brownish-black or jet black. Ants, as with all insects, have three body parts; the head, thorax, and abdomen. Most ants are wingless. Home owners often confuse swarming, winged ants with swarming, winged termites. Ants can be easily distinguished from termites by several characteristics:

1. Ant bodies appear constricted or pinched in at the waist, however termites do not have small waists.
2. Ants have elbowed antennae, while termites have straight, bead-like antennae.
3. Ant forewings are much larger than the hindwings, and termites' wings are equal in size and shape.
4. Ant wings are transparent or brownish, yet termite wings are milky-white and longer than the body.
5. Ant wings are firmly attached, while termite wings are easily removed or shed.


Ants in Georgia

All species of ants are highly social, and live in colonies or nests, usually located in the soil near the house foundation or slab, in clogged gutters, crawlspaces, yards, and in other places that provide protection. Ant colonies have three castes - namely queen ants, males and worker ants. Queen ants and males are the reproductive castes, while worker ants are sterile, wingless females.

A new ant colony is started by a single fertilized queen ant that lays eggs that develop into the worker ants. Tending of the brood is then taken over by the worker, which may shift the brood from place to place as moisture and temperature fluctuate in the nest. When workers forage for food for the queen ant and her young, they often enter homes because of readily available food sources, and great protection from the weather.

Ants in homes are definitely a nuisance but can be controlled and eliminated by a professional pest control company. To find and eliminate household ant problems it is essential to identify the type of ant, know their habits, and then use the appropriate methods to kill ants in your home. People sometimes confuse winged termites with winged ants, and do not know that they should have called for termite control services. Anytime that you see swarms of flying insects you should call a pest control company.

When treating ant problems, a concern is making sure to kill the ants without posing harm to people or pets. This is why it is advisable to hire a trained ant control professional to get optimum results. Many of the do it yourself ant control products can be very dangerous when used indoors, and incorrectly mixed. Furthermore, it is necessary to find the best ant control method for the particular type of ant that you seek to eliminate.

The links below will get you to pages that give you more information on the common types of ants in Georgia.

Getting rid of household ants can be very difficult for the average home owner because each species of common household ant may require slightly different pest control methods. Getting rid of ants in your home may require both indoor and outdoor pest control treatments, as well as some caulking or crack sealing work to block their return. Our home ant control specialists can eliminate your ant problems and give you ideas on how to ant-proof your home. Call us today!