Ants

Pharaoh ants will nest in virtually any site that provides protection. Colonies have been found nesting in walls, furniture and appliances, but they have also been discovered in unique locations such as between the folds of sheets in closets, hollow curtain rods, inside irons, in small boxes and under roofing shingles. They are extremely opportunistic in their selection of nesting sites.

Pharaoh ants can only be controlled by the effective placement of ant baits. The type of bait that is ultimately successful is one on which the colony or colonies involved will feed for an extended period of time. The foraging workers return the bait to the colony, feeding it to other workers, larvae and queens.

These ants are known pest in manufacturing units, healthcare settings, office buildings etc. In residences, pharaoh ants are considered more as a nuisance pest. Although the ant does not bite, it may detrimentally affect human health. The pharaoh ants are known to carry and may transmit many diseases, such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and clostridium, which may cause botulism which is a concern in hospitals or health care facilities.

This ant will take advantage of any suitable, moist space to locate its colony. It is commonly found infesting rotted logs, stumps and fence posts and may be found in tree holes and dead tree limbs far above the ground. Nests are also commonly located within piles of lumber, rocks, bricks and similar items.

Infestations of little black ants often require patience and skill to follow the trails back to the nest. The type of treatment used depends on the location of the nest (e.g., inside the wood, within a brick pile, etc.). Baits can be effective but require persistence and follow-up to achieve results. General tips for limiting ant infestations include:

• Eliminating piles of lumber, bricks or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
• Keeping landscape mulch less than two inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations.
• Ensuring the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation.
• Sealing as many cracks in the building’s exterior as possible.
• Keeping tree and shrub branches trimmed to prevent touching the building.
• Considering re-landscaping to avoid using plants that are prone to aphids and similar insects. At the very least, treat such plants for aphids regularly. A tree/shrub company can be helpful with this task.

Although little black ants have a stinger, it is often too small and weak to be effective. Once inside the facility, it will feed upon anything from sweet, seeds, meat, bread and oily foods.

These ants nest outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, beneath loose bark on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants and within piles of items such as lumber, firewood or bricks. In addition, nests may readily be established inside homes in walls, beneath carpeting and in other suitable voids or spaces.

This species may be difficult to control & needs continuous monitoring. The keys to control are to find the colonies and subcolonies and treat them directly. Regular inspections and service are necessary to find and treat new colonies as they move from neighbouring properties. The services of a professional, such as TerminixSiS are very helpful when encountering these ants. General tips for limiting ant infestations include:

• Eliminating piles of lumber, bricks or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
• Keeping landscape mulch less than two inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations.
• Ensuring the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation.
• Sealing as many cracks in the home’s exterior as possible.
• Keeping tree and shrub branches trimmed to prevent touching the home.

They are a problem when they enter your facility in large numbers or build their nests inside electrical equipment, which can then cause the equipment to malfunction.

These ants nest outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, beneath loose bark on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants and within piles of items such as lumber, firewood or bricks. In addition, nests may readily be established inside homes in walls, beneath carpeting and in other suitable voids or spaces.

This species may be difficult to control & needs continuous monitoring. The keys to control are to find the colonies and subcolonies and treat them directly. Regular inspections and service are necessary to find and treat new colonies as they move from neighbouring properties. The services of a professional, such as TerminixSIS are very helpful when encountering these ants. General tips for limiting ant infestations include:

• Eliminating piles of lumber, bricks or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants.
• Keeping landscape mulch less than two inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations.
• Ensuring the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation.
• Sealing as many cracks in the home’s exterior as possible.
• Keeping tree and shrub branches trimmed to prevent touching the home.

Ghost ants do not sting, as they lack a stinger. However, ghost ants can become a serious nuisance because they are known to nest inside the structures and don’t differentiate between residential or commercial set-up.

The main colony must have a constant source of moisture to survive, so it is usually located in dead wood outside. This includes dead limbs, tree holes, stumps, landscape timbers and so forth. Indoors, a main colony will have to be associated with a water leak or an overly wet, poorly ventilated crawl space or attic. The main colony may establish satellite colonies that are the primary source of ant activity inside homes. These satellite colonies may be located in any suitable void (e.g., hollow doors, curtain rods, shower rods), under attic insulation, etc. These ants set up trunk trails between the main colony to satellite colonies and between satellite colonies. Foraging ants can most easily be seen along these trunk trails at night when the ants are most active. Sometimes, the trunk trails occur beneath the ground following tree roots.

Successfully controlling carpenter ants requires certain skills, knowledge and experience. Carpenter ant control involves tracking down and treating as many satellite colonies as possible inside and outside of the home as well as attempting to find and treat the parent colony. Accessing the parent colony may be difficult because it might be located high in a tree or on a neighbouring property. In such cases, your service professional may recommend regular pest management services to help prevent new infestations. These tips will help you limit carpenter ant infestation:

• Store any wood away from your home and remove any dead wood or wood scraps from around the foundation.
• Trim dead limbs from trees and remove stumps. Rid your vicinity of these potential nesting sites.
• Make sure that all plumbing or roof leaks are sealed, and check crawl spaces for excess moisture.
• Water from rain gutters should be directed away from your home and not be allowed to accumulate close to the foundation.

Carpenter ants only damage wood in the process of building their nests.

They build their colonies on lawns, gardens, public parks and school playing grounds. They prefer to build in open sunny areas where the soil has been irrigated or slightly disturbed.
Their mounds have a fresh tilled appearance especially after rain and may reach up to 24 inches tall without a common entrance. Other non Red Imported Fire Ants mounds dont exceed 2 inches in height.

• Once these pests are established they become very difficult to control. It is important that you call insect experts to exterminate them due to their complex colony habits.
• Seal all the holes within the property that the insects can use to gain access.
• Keep away stacks of firewood that they can use to build nests.

The red imported ants colonies are very destructive and leave a trail of damage on their pathways. They will attack any living creature from domestic animals to wild animals. They attack the young of birds and reptiles.
Their stings are obnoxious due to the high concentration of venom that it produces. It causes intense itching, followed by whitish blisters. If broken can lead to secondary infections. Allergic individuals can suffer from anaphalytic shock or even death.
They also damage agricultural crops, livestock plus equipment like air conditioners, airport landing lights, water wells.