Ants

The ant is one of the smallest insects in the entire community. However, when you consider what some of the species are capable of, it can be ultimately mind-blowing. To start, just look at their ability to haul food crumbs nearly the size of their bodies. Most people have seen ants toting food around the home. However, they likely never thought twice about it after eliminating the creepy crawler. Well, the fact that it can tote this crumb for hundreds of feet is astonishing. Add in the fact that these crumbs likely weigh the same as the ant, and it makes the entire situation all that more mesmerizing. This is just the start of what the ant species is capable of.

As fascinating as all of this is, knowing this information alone won’t help your detection and elimination efforts. Therefore, at the first sighting of an ant, you’ll want to get our pest management services on the line. We’ll get someone out to the property as soon as possible. We do have emergency specialists available if and when they are needed.

What Exactly Is The Ant?

As basic and this question might seem, there is nothing at all basic about the answer. The ant is considered a social insect that hails from the Formicidae Family. This family is part of the Hymenoptera order, same as the bee. It is even said that the ant probably originated from a similar wasp-like ancestor more than 140 million ago. One of the major reasons the ant and wasp are considered so closely related is because of their social qualities.

Like the bee and wasp, the ant will form social colonies where there is a queen, workers, scouts, and other defined roles. During the very early development of the colony, there will even be what is known as swarmers. These are virtually ants with wings. These are the members that fly around and find suitable locations for the colony. In addition to this, the ant maintains a hive mind. This is where all the members work together for the development and betterment of the colony.

Whether it is food, defense, or relocating the queen, these members will work together to accomplish the same goal.

Learning To Identify Ants

One of the most interesting things about ants is the fact that there are so many different species. As you can imagine, this will only make elimination all that more difficult. You’ll not only have to contend with one species, but you’ll likely be contending with several hundred. It will be nearly impossible for the average homeowner to learn to properly identify every species without a guide. Luckily, you won’t have to because we are here for this very thing. This being said, there are some things you’ll want to keep an eye out for.

While different species display different traits and characteristics, there are common things you’ll want to look for in and around the home. The first will be the presence of the ant. A large number of ants in or around the home will be a good indication of an infestation. These creepy crawlers are oftentimes found in the kitchen, so keep your eye peeled. Pathways in the lawn or around the property are other things you’ll want to look for. Some species lay down pheromones to help guide them from food sources to their colonies.

Although pheromones are chemical, you can usually spot these trails with the eye. Nests are another good indication. Look for nests around the property. Some of them can be underground, some can look like small piles of soil or dirt, and some might be more difficult to spot because they’ll be in the walls. Whatever the situation, at the first indication of an infestation, you’ll want to get our office on phone.

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