Ants
(Formicidae)

Ants (Formicidae) are a common pest. Most species may look very similar, but with more than 10,000 species living worldwide, these pests vary in appearance, behavior, and nesting habits. Ants live all around us and often move into our yards and homes to nest and forage for food. Listed below are species of ants that live throughout our area of North Carolina.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are tiny aggressive ants that bite and sting anything that comes too close to their nest.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants produce a foul odor that smells like rotting coconuts.

Little Black Ants

Little black ants are, as their name describes, tiny black ants that move into our homes in large numbers.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large ants that like to nest inside wood previously damaged by water. Inside our homes, they create satellite nests inside structural wood.

Ants can be dangerous. Any species of ant can contaminate food, but some pose even larger problems. For instance, fire ants like to place their nests in our yards uninvited and then bite and sting us if we walk too close to their nest. Their venom is strong enough to trigger allergic reactions in people. They can also invade and damage farm and electrical equipment.

Carpenter ants are another example of dangerous ants because of the destruction they can cause to our property. The tunnels and nesting galleries they create inside structural wood can lead to extensive and costly damage over time.

Ants have the unique ability to seem to pop up out of nowhere and take over. Ants will nest on any property that offers suitable nesting sites and food. Open trash and recycling containers, pet food, and outdoor eating areas are very inviting to ants.

Once worker ants discover a source of food, they alert the rest of the colony. After finding food on your property, ants may create satellite nests both outside and inside your home to help expand their colony.

Most ants create their outdoor nests in damp soil under fallen trees, mulch, dense shrubbery, woodpiles, and landscape ties. Fire ants, by contrast, often nest in open, sunny areas such as yards, golf courses, and parks.

If ants move inside to create a satellite nest, they usually do so behind walls or underneath floors near water pipes, crawlspaces, or other moist areas. Ants often nest in parts of the home with higher humidity, such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Win the war against ants and other pests with the help of an experienced professional. At Innovative Pest Solutions, we provide effective pest control services in Raleigh, NC that homeowners can trust. We get rid of pests and help stop them from coming back.

Protecting our customers’ homes, health, and the environment are our top priorities. To learn more about our locally owned and operated company and our affordable pest solutions, explore our residential pest control options.

To prevent ants from becoming a problem on your Raleigh, North Carolina property, partner with Innovative Pest Solutions. You can also use the following tips to help guard your home against ants:

• Remove leaf piles, fallen trees, and tree stumps that provide nesting spots.
• Keep lids on trash cans and recycling bins.
• Maintain gardens and compost areas and remove uneaten pet food.
• Maintain a barrier between mulch, grass, soil, and your home’s foundation.
• Seal entry points in exterior walls and the foundation.
• Place covers over vents leading into your house.
• Fix leaking pipes and fixtures to reduce access to water.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioning to reduce indoor humidity.