Host:
You can find ants in soil, wood, under rocks, inside walls and structures, trees and pavement cracks. They are adaptable and thrive in forests, grasslands, deserts and urban area.
Damage:
Trails of ants inside structures. Small piles of soil or sawdust. Rustling sounds inside walls (carpenter ants) or winged ants (swarmer’s) indoors. As ants are omnivores, they can contaminate food.
Description and Lifecycle:
There are over 12,000 species of ants in the world, the most common are the Carpenter ant, Pavement ant, Odorous house ant and Pharaoh ant. They have a lifespan from weeks to years; Queens can live 10 – 30 years. Depending on the specs they range in size from 1 – 25 mm in length and vary in color black, brown, red, yellow or any combination of these colors. Ants play a vital role in the ecosystem as they aerate soil, decompose organic material, disperse seeds and improve soil health.
Control Measures:
Seal cracks and entry points, store food in airtight containers, clean spills promptly. Trim vegetation away from structures and reduce moisture around foundations. There are a variety of chemical control methods depending on the severity of the infestation.
CALL SHADY LANE EXPERT TREE CARE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
