When you get out of your car and walk into the garage, do you see any ants on the way? You probably do, but you don’t worry about it, right? When you get in the garage, you may see more, but unless they’re actually in your house, do you really worry about ants? What about out in your yard? When we see ants in our yard, we usually don’t think twice about them unless they’re crawling all over our feet or ruining a picnic. So, how can you tell which ants on your property are dangerous?
The Ants Of Auburn
There are hundreds of species of ants in Alabama, and most of them are simply nuisance pests. However, even nuisance pests can be dangerous. Many of the nuisance ant species in Alabama like dark rover ants and argentine ants can carry diseases into your home. What makes matters worse is their pack mentality and their mission to find your food supplies. As they hunt around your kitchen for any food sources they may find exposed, they’ll end up contaminating anything in their paths.
Dark rover ants are usually brown to dark brown in color, while Argentine ants are typically a lighter brown color.
Just above nuisance level is the carpenter ant, which is the most destructive species of ants you’ll potentially have to deal with. As their name suggests, these large, black, sometimes winged ants will build their nests inside the wood and cause costly damage in your home. They’ll also sting if their nest is disturbed.
At the highest threat level are the ants whose sting can cause serious health issues beyond just momentary pain. In this category, we have a variety of species from red fire ants to field ants. Fire ants range in color from black to red. Don't let their name deceive you; just because ants are black does not mean they aren’t a threat. Many of these species will enter your home in search of food and sting when threatened, which can lead to anaphylactic shock, shortness of breath, or severe allergic reactions.
Even the stinging ants that don’t enter homes, like the field ant, will still make their presence known in your yard if you wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Field ants, typically light red or brown in color, can be very prevalent on your property without proper control.
Prevention Measures
Even though some ants are simple nuisances while others pose more serious threats, no ant species should be welcome on your property. It can be very difficult to keep ants off your property and out of your home on your own, but there are a few things you can do to limit ant activity in and around your house:
- Be on the lookout for scout ants. If they find something of interest, more are soon to follow.
- Clean surfaces like countertops or tables regularly to avoid attracting ants.
- Get rid of food quickly or properly store it and never leave food out overnight.
- Secure your trash in an inaccessible container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Identify any potential entry points like cracks in the walls, under doors, and around windows in order to make it more difficult to get in. Remember, ants are usually looking for the path of least resistance.
There may be plenty of sprays and bait stations available, but these DIY methods hardly ever get the job done quickly or completely. When there are health issues and property damage on the line, don’t you think you should go with the guaranteed prevention method? No matter what type of ant you think you’re dealing with, contact the professionals at Prewett Pest Control for total ant control today!
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