Ants

What are ants?

Ants are social insects that live together in large groups. In fact, some species may have more than a million members in a single colony. Ants are a big problem in Texas, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Their large colony size and ability to maintain multiple nesting sites makes them a formidable pest for local home and business owners to contend with. There are more than 10,000 ant species worldwide, with most of them living in tropical areas away from civilization. However, many others live close to people.

Some of the most common species to invade our properties include the Argentine ant, fire ant, raspberry crazy ant, ghost ant, harvester ant, odorous house ant, pharaoh ant, acrobat ant, white-footed ant, thief ant, and the pavement ant.

The main characteristics of ants include:

• Three body segments — head, thorax, and abdomen
• Two compound eyes
• Constricted waist
• Elbowed antennae
• Powerful mouthparts they use for chewing, grasping, biting, and carrying
• A hard, waterproof exoskeleton covered in spiracles (tiny holes that allow these insects to breathe)
• Wings only on reproductive members (queens and males)

Ant colonies are formed and headed by a queen. The queen's job is to create viable eggs, mate with males, and produce more ants to maintain the colony. The male ant's only job is to reproduce with the queen. The worker ants are the member of the colony most commonly seen by people; these ants are sterile females and responsible for foraging for food, caring for the developing ants, and protecting and maintaining the nest.

Are ants dangerous?

Several species of ants pose threats to both people and our property, including:

• Fire ants and harvester ants are aggressive and deliver painful bites and venom-filled stings to people and animals.
• The Pharaoh ant spreads things like salmonella and streptococcus. They are a significant concern and a problem in hospitals because of the diseases they spread and the moisture they seek from patients' eyes, mouths, wounds, and IV bags.
• Carpenter ants invade and nest within structural wood, causing costly and extensive damage.

 While most of the ants invading our homes are nuisance ants, it's important to remember they also cause significant problems, including spreading bacteria across surfaces and contaminating food. Additionally, ants are a frustrating pest that seems to appear out of nowhere and keep appearing despite our best efforts to keep them out. 

Why do I have an ant problem?

Ants become a problem in our homes after seeking out food and shelter. If the weather suddenly becomes too dry, hot, rainy, or chilly, ants migrate indoors. Common entry points that ants frequently use to enter homes, businesses, and other structures include openings around door thresholds, windows, and the gaps where utility pipes and wires enter buildings. They also move inside through cracks, gaps, or vulnerable points they discover in the foundation and through damaged door trim.

Another problem associated with ants is their ability to "bud" when disturbed or threatened. Budding is when a team of worker ants brings a queen and some young ants from the colony to a new nesting site, expanding the colony and ensuring its survival. An ant's ability to bud makes controlling these pests difficult without the help of a professional.

Where will I find ants?