The most common pest problem service providers are called in to deal with is the issue of ants. Why is this the case? You may say that is because they're annoying, and you wouldn't be wrong. But the real reason is that there are so many different kinds. In our service area, we get calls for odorous house ants, ghost ants, pharaoh ants, rover ants, fire ants, crazy ants, carpenter ants, acrobat ants, and more. How many kinds of silverfish are there? One. How many kinds of bed bugs? Two, if you're being technical, but they're both called bed bugs. They don't have individual names. And those two kinds of bed bugs basically act the same. Each ant pest is unique in its own way. So, if you're hoping to get rid of ants or prevent an ant problem, you need to know some facts about each type of ant and what's available for ant pest control services.

What Types Of Ants Are Found In Sugar Land?

When you find ant activity, there is a good chance the ants on your property or in your home are one of the ants listed below. Let's take a quick look at the common ants of Sugar Land and examine a few unique facts about each.

1. Odorous House Ant: Brown or black and growing to 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length, these ants create a stinky smell when crushed. Most often, the smell is compared to rotten coconut. Apart from the smell, they are most known for their ability to infest homes. Pest control is uniquely challenging because they have multiple queens, nests are prone to budding, and they create interconnected nests.   

2. Ghost Ant: These ants have a dark brown head and thorax with a pale yellow abdomen and legs and grow to be 1/16 of an inch long. They are recognizable by their distinct coloration. When they crawl on white surfaces, they look a bit like ghosts. Hence the name. These ants often establish nests in soil, dead branches, and decaying leaves. Yard work can help manage these pests. When crushed underfoot, they also produce an unpleasant aroma. 

3. Pharaoh Ant: Pale yellow to red and growing to 1/16 of an inch in length, these ants were given the name because it was mistakenly thought that ants were one of the plagues brought against the Pharaoh of Egypt during the time of Moses. But it is an appropriate name because these ants are definitely a plague and are a species that is more likely to make you sick. 

4. Rover Ant: Ranging from black and dark brown to pale yellow, these tiny ants are sweet eaters. It is appropriate that we should have a problem with rover ants in Sugar Land. A point to consider with rover ants is that they can create super colonies. If you don't want your home overrun, it is good to deal with these ants quickly. Don't let their small size fool you. They're a big problem. 

5. Fire Ant: Small, red, and aggressive, these ants are known for their sting, though we refer to the wounds they cause as fire ant bites. The fiery name is a description of the sensation of burning associated with their stings. For some individuals, fire ants are a serious threat, as an allergic reaction to their venom can lead to anaphylaxis.  

6. Crazy Ant: Dark brown to black with a gray sheen, these ants grow to be 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. They are able to mobilize an incredible number. Some property owners have described their infestations in this way: "It looked like the ground was moving." That's crazy. It is no wonder they're called crazy ants. Watch out for these ants because they get into automobiles and electronics, causing them to malfunction.

7. Carpenter Ant: Larger in size than most ants, carpenter ants can grow to a half inch in length and range in color from red to black or a combination of the two. These ants are known for their ability to tunnel in wood. It is critical to catch them and stop them early as they will produce winged ants for the purpose of creating more nests, and the threat to your property will increase.

8. Acrobat Ant: Yet another tiny brown-to-black species of ant, these ants are known for their acrobatic behavior. If you see ants with their abdomens lifted up over their backs, those are acrobat ants. They're known by entomologists for their impressive defensive capabilities. If you attempt to control them, you'll quickly learn that their defenses are not limited to predators and other ants. They elude pest control as well.   

Now that you know a bit about each of the different types of ants we have in Sugar Land, let's drill a little deeper and look at the conditions that lead to an infestation. It all comes down to three factors: attractions, routes, and entry points. Let's look at these and consider a few specific ant prevention tips.

How Ants Get Inside Sugar Land Homes And What Attracts Them

Ants don't know your home has food, so why do they get inside? The first thing you should know is that this supposition is incorrect. Ants actually do know that your home has food. How do they know? Within an ant colony, there are unique workers that act as scouts. They travel away from the group in search of food. When a scout finds food in your home, it lays down a scented trail on its way back to the group. The other workers follow the trail and enter your home in large numbers. If the ant species is one that creates indoor nests, they may decide to move inside. But, even if they don't, a nest sitting next to your home can routinely send ants inside to drive you crazy. Do you see the three factors involved? Do you see how attractants, routes, and entry points bring ants indoors?

If you don't want the ants on the outside of your home creating a nest on the inside, or you'd like to prevent ants from coming into your home in large (and annoying) numbers, you'll need to counteract their natural behavior patterns. Let's take a look at specific ant prevention tips that address the reason ants enter.

Everything Sugar Land Residents Need To Know About Ant Prevention

The attractant ants are looking for most in your home is food. If they find food in your home, they'll enlist an army to invade. The route they take to invade is often plants that touch the exterior of your home because ants crawl all over landscape vegetation. Why do they do this? Just as with the inside of your home, ants look for food on vegetation near your home. What do ants eat? Nectar, honeydew, and insects, mostly. If the plants touch your exterior, ants will explore the area around that location. If they find a gap in a window frame, they'll get right into your home. You must address the vegetation and the potential entry points to keep ants out. Here are some specific tips that will help you prevent an ant infestation.

• Keep your home clean and remove food debris.
• Keep food covered when you have it out on your counters.
• Store left over foods in sealed containers to keep ants out.
• Wipe down the outside of containers such as honey jars.
• Wipe down shelves and cabinets.
• Seal gaps around the pipes that enter under your kitchen sink.
• Seal exterior gaps and cracks, particularly around windows, doors, and utilities.
• Trim vegetation away from your foundation and exterior walls.
• Remove leaves, dead branches, and other organic debris from your exterior.
• Remove weeds and unwanted grass in your landscape.
• Clean gutters to reduce moisture and puddles near your home, which provide the water ants need for survival.

These simple steps can make a big difference in preventing an infestation. They can also work to drive ants out of your home if you're currently dealing with an ant problem. Are they the best solution for ants? It depends on your ant problem.

The Best Solution For Ant Control In Sugar Land

When is the right time to contact a licensed pest professional regarding an ant problem, and when is it okay to use home pest control solutions for ants? You can do either at any time. As for contacting a licensed pest professional, you don't have to wait until you have an ant problem. A year-round home pest control service plan can keep ant infestations from starting in the first place. As for home pest control solutions, they can work for certain ant problems. The trick is selecting the right products and applying them correctly. But the main issue with DIY ant control is that it often falls short of stopping ants in any kind of permanent way.

Do you need assistance with pest control in Sugar Land? Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite to arrest an infestation, remove ant mounds, or provide your home with ongoing pest control to reduce ants and prevent pest entry. We have the solutions to help you get on top of ant problems. It is simple and stress-free to get started. Use our contact page to request information about services and pricing for your Sugar Land home. Your All-Safe Pest & Termite team is here to help.

I have been with them for several years. They are always responsive if any issues arise, and are completely on top of our quarterly treatments. I love it, because I don’t have…

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