Serving Memphis, Cordova, Germantown & Collierville TN
Did you know that there are more than 10,000 known species of ants? If ants are infiltrating your home in Memphis, you don’t need to find an entomologist (that’s a scientist who studies insects). You just want them gone, no matter the species. Properly identifying pests invading your home is the first defense against controlling unwanted bugs. So today on the blog, our Memphis pest control experts came up with this guide to four types of ants you’re most likely to find inside your home.
Argentine ants
This species of ant was originally called Argentina home but now has spread around the world. Argentine ants are considered a nuisance pest. They reproduce and spread quickly, with hundreds of queens producing colonies that can become massive. These ants are also adaptable, with the ability to build shallow nests in various materials, including stored bricks, moist soil, mulch within a woodpile or along a sidewalk or driveway. That said, you find these ant colonies most often inside walls or insulation. Argentine ants are omnivorous, so they can turn about anything into food, but sweet food and water are their favorite. Argentine ants also are quite hearty; their colonies are resistant to store-bought spray products. If you identify a trail of ants moving quickly to whatever source of food or water they’ve found, they’re likely Argentine ants. Contact a pest control professional in Cordova to have the problem evaluated.
Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants may build a colony of thousands of worker ants, all from only one queen. These ants are large, reaching up to 13 millimeters in length—that’s more than a half-inch. In addition to their size, carpenter ants can be identified by their dark-colored bodies, jointed antennae, narrow waists, and having shorter hind wings than front wings. Carpenter ants prefer to nest in decaying wood, where they’ll build smooth tunnels (hence their name). If you notice carpenter ants in your home, there already could be a full-blown infestation leading to thousands of dollars in property damage. They also can be devastating to the structural integrity of your home, potentially posing as much of a threat as termites. That’s why it’s crucial to find a trusted pest control company in Memphis.
Fire ants
We have written before about the threat of fire ants in Memphis. These ants pose a significant threat to the health and safety of your loved ones, especially children. Identified by their red or orange color, fire ants prefer to stay outdoors, building their nests in lawns, pastures, exterior buildings, or cracks in concrete. Once a nest is established, fire ants construct exit tunnels, some as long as 25 feet. The biggest threat to fire ants comes from their bite, which can lead to as much pain, swelling, and itching as being stung by a bee or a wasp. The risk magnifies for individuals that are allergic to ant bites. Now, consider that a well-established fire ant colony could have close to a quarter-million ants, and you see why this is a serious problem that should be treated by a pest control professional.
Odorous ants
The subject of a recent TikTok trend, these ants emit odors—typically when they are dead, have been crushed, or are in danger. These ants like to build their nests in warm moist areas. That means they seek out firewood or mulch outside and enjoy nesting in wall crevices, under carpets, and even inside water pipes if they’re able to infiltrate a building. An odorous ant colony consists of several separated nests. The bigger the colony, the more nests there are. Odorous ants also will move nests, sometimes as often as every few weeks, in search of food. That makes it difficult for anyone who is not a trained pest control expert to find and eradicate a colony of odorous ants.
Ant Control in Memphis and Cordova
Ants can be stubborn, so you need to trust these matters to a pest control professional company that is committed to seeing through the job—a company like AAA Termite & Pest Control. If you see ants in your home, no matter what they look like, contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our trained technicians. Once we’ve treated for the ants, our year-round pest control maintenance plan is available for continued pest prevention. To find out more, call us today at (901) 737-7378.