Ants

Pestology > Ants
Ants

ANTS
PEST CONTROL

Ants are highly socialized and organized six-legged insects that form colonies. They are industrious and breed fast.

Ants will often travel a wide range in search for food. That is why a few ants found in the kitchen can quickly become an infestation. Some types of ant will lay down a scent which attracts other ants to a discovered food source. Their small size means they can get into almost anything from closets, pantries, cupboards and into food and food containers. Ants are known for having a particularly strong sweet tooth and are attracted to items such as fruit, sugar and honey.

This is why starting with the right type of ant control services is a critical long term solution.

Ants’ appearance differs from that of termites in a couple of different ways:

  • Darker color depending on the species.
  • Elbowed antennae.
  • Eyes are evident on the side of the head.
  • 3 sections – Head, Thorax and Gaster.
  • Compared to termites, ants have a thin waist where the thorax meets the gaster.

Ants operate in a caste system:

  1. Worker
    • All female.
    • Look after the queen, care for the young, forage for food.
    • Help expand and maintain the nest.
    • Quite small compared to the other castes.
  2. Soldier
    • All female.
    • Only current in ant species which are polymorphic.
    • Much larger than worker ants and have strong jaws.
    • Protect the colony but also, use their large jaws to help cut and carry large objects.
    • Soldier ants use their large head to block the entrances to their nests when under attack.
  3. Flying Ants/Alate
    • All female.
    • Their two sets of wings are different sizes from one another.
    • Fly away from the nest to start a new colony. Once they have landed and start to build a nest, they clip their wings and use them as a source of protein for their new colony.
  4. Winged Drone
    • The only male in an ant colony.
    • Their only job is to reproduce.
    • They fly off with the females to reproduce and start a new colony.
    • Once they have mated they die.

Management

  • Spot Treatment with pesticides
  • Gel Baiting
  • Residual Spray with chemical
  • Thermal Fogging to external nest