Nuisance Ants, Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants

Nuisance Ants
Nuisance Ants, also known as Sugar or Odorous Ants, are very small and are usually around 1/8” to 1/4” long and typically black or brown in color. These do not cause structural damage, however, they can infest an entire house and are very difficult to get rid of. To help prevent them, keep your kitchen clean, dry, and free of grease. Keep food in containers that the ants can’t get into, like plastic or glass, and keep them tightly sealed. Ensure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent entry.

Fire Ants
Fire Ants are usually 1/8” to 1/4” long and have a copper brown head and thorax with a darker abdomen. They build conical mounds in open areas like your yard. These are very dangerous, having a painful sting that can be fatal to people who are allergic. They are also known to be destructive to vegetation and electrical systems. They are very difficult to drive away once a colony is established, and it’s often best to get professional pest control treatment to eliminate them.

Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants are large, ranging anywhere from 1/4” to 1”. They have large mandibles which they use to chew through wood. They do not eat the wood, but they can cause a good deal of damage as they chew it to expand their nest. Some of the most common areas to be infested are those that tend to have moisture, such as leaves, window casings, porches, and decks. In order to prevent infestation, you should remove moist or rotted wood, seal cracks and crevices, and keep your house clean of wood piles and any type of wood debris.