If you start to see lots of ants in your driveway, or ants climbing on your exterior walls, it can make you wonder if your health or property are being put at risk. There are many ant species in Alabama, and there are many ways ants can present a threat. Today, we're going to take a look at a few examples.
Carpenter Ants
When it comes to property damage, carpenter ants are the ants to watch out for. These ants create galleries in wood. They'll begin by chewing on rotted wood, or wood that has been softened by moisture, but they have been observed moving from rotted wood into sound timbers. If left untreated, carpenter ants can do a significant amount of damage to your Auburn property.
Identification — A carpenter ant will be entirely black or a mix of black and dark red. Workers have no wings and they vary in size. You'll find these ants near sources of wood, leaf piles, leaf litter, and around doorways. Workers may be ½ to ⅝ inches long. Winged ants will be twice this size.
Fire Ants
These ants need no introduction. We're sure you're aware of what a fire ant is. What you may not know is that an allergy to fire ants can develop later in life. If you've been stung by fire ants before with no adverse effect, be aware that your immunity to their venom could change as you get older. If you experience an allergic reaction, the symptoms could be serious and even life-threatening. The greatest threat these ants present is to infants, the infirm, the elderly, and anyone who can't get away.
Identification — These are dark reddish-brown ants. Workers of the red imported fire ant range in size from ⅛ to ⅜ inches long. Winged ants are twice this size. You'll find fire ants creating mounds throughout your yard.
Crazy Ants
When these ants come into your yard by the billions, it can feel like a scene out of a horror movie. But, what often happens is crazy ants group together in a condensed area. If they come into your yard and establish themselves near your driveway, they can present a threat to your vehicle. If they establish themselves near your home, they can get into your electrical boxes. When they find their way into your home, they can get into electronics. This behavior can cause vehicles and appliances to stop working. Experts estimate the cost of electrical damage due to crazy ant infestations to be above a hundred million annually.
Identification — Crazy ants are a tawny coloration, dark brown, or black with a gray sheen, depending on the species. These tiny ants may be 1/16 to 1/8 inches long, depending on the species. They will be found in dense groups, crawling around in crazy patterns and climbing on top of each other.
Pharaoh Ants
Almost all ant species have the ability to contaminate your foods. They get into trash, crawl around on things that are rotting, and then make their way into sensitive food-storage areas. But Pharaoh ants are particularly efficient at spreading diseases. This is because these ants get into the open wounds of pets, livestock, and wildlife. This is one ant species you definitely do not want in your Auburn home.
Identification — Pharaoh ants are pale with a dark abdomen. At a mere 1/16 of an inch, they're not much to look at, but don't let their size fool you. These ants can be a big threat. You'll find these ants typically hanging out in shaded areas.
Ant Control In Auburn
If you are seeing ants around or inside your Auburn, AL home, contact the ant control specialists at Prewett Pest Control. Some ants can be dangerous to your property, and to your health, and ants can be extraordinarily difficult to control. Don't waste time, money, and energy battling ant problems. Let our team arrest your ant infestations and get control of those ants. We use the most advanced pest control strategies and field-tested baits to target ant pests and eliminate colonies. Reach out to us and request service for your Alabama property today. We're here to help!