Oh No … ANTS!
By Terri Estes
They are unwelcome visitors at picnics, barbecues and in homes. They will invade the cleanest kitchens and the most secure cupboards. The Entenmann’s crumb cake that was on the counter suddenly looks like it has chocolate sprinkles. It’s those pesky ants.
There are over 12,000 species of ants on the planet. Only about 50 to 700 species are considered household pests. The largest type of ant measures about 2.8 inches (and thankfully lives in Germany). The smallest ants can be found in Sri Lanka and are only about .8 to 1.0 millimeter in length. The bullet ant has the most powerful sting in the world, but lucky for us, they’re found in the Amazon. Ants are strong creatures, being able to lift 20 times their own body weight. Ants are also the longest living insects, with the queen Pogonomyrmex Owyheei being able to live up to 30 years! And despite ant being in the name, Antarctica is the only continent without them.
Ants do have some benefits…outside. They help to aerate soil, break down organic matter and redistribute nutrients and can even help spread seeds for native plants. But inside, they become an issue.
In our area, we have to deal with destructive carpenter ants, pavement ants and the annoying little black ants among others, that tend to invade our homes, gardens and yards.
We seal entry points, use airtight containers for food, set bait traps, but the only way to stop the invasion is to kill the queen.
Some over the counter bait traps work well. They are usually a sweet, protein-rich attractant mixed with a slow-acting insecticide. The worker ants consume the poisoned bait and bring it back to the colony, sharing it with other ants including the queen. This leads to the eventual collapse and death of the colony.
So, if the ants come marching into your home, commercial bait traps may be the way to go. If that doesn’t work, a professional exterminator may be needed.
