Summer Pests Part 2: Ants

The air is warm, the sun is shining and the ants are marching into many peoples’ homes in droves.  Whether you live in a single family home or a second story condo, you are definitely at risk for a summer pest invasion.  In our last post we discussed Mosquitoes.  Now that you’ve had a chance to  check the screens and stock up on the repellents, we’ll move on to those tiny invaders who seem to show up out of thin air.

Depending on where you are, the species may vary. If you’re in California, here’s a list of the most common culprits: Argentine Ants, Odorous House Ants, Pharaoh Ants, Carpenter Ants, Pavement Ants, Red Imported Fire Ants, Southern Fire Ants and the Thief Ant.

Not all of these ant species will invade your home, some prefer the great outdoors of your yard and garden to stage their siege.  Below we will take a look at two species of ants that are likely to drop in for the summer and longer.  For more in depth information on the ant species listed above and for additional management tips please visit our Ants page.

Let’s begin with the most common ant species found in the living spaces as well as outdoor spaces around your home, the Argentine Ant.  The Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile) takes its name from the region which it originated from, Northern Argentina.  These days you can find Argentine Ants just about anywhere in the world, they have an especially large presence here in California.

Argentine Ant

Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile)

You can identify Argentine Ants by a combination of key characteristics.  Most notably, all of the workers are about the same size which is approximately 1/8th of an inch in length.  They are typically a dark brown color.  If you happen to see what looks like a really large Argentine Ant, then chances are you’re looking at an Argentine Ant Queen as they are two to three times the size of a worker.  Before you celebrate that you’ve killed the queen and the colony will collapse, you should know that Argentine Ants have large colonies with smaller subcolonies. This means multiple queens and nests, this is key knowledge in treating an Argentine Ant  infestation.

Another common ant you might find in your home is the Odorous Ant (Tapinoma sessile), in some regions they’re also referred to as Coconut Ants.  No they do not resemble coconuts in any way, the name has more to with the odor that comes from them when they’re crushed.  Some say the odor is sort of musty like a coconut.

Odorous Ant

Odorous Ant (Tapinoma sessile)

Even if you don’t have the best sense of smell, you can still  identify Odorous Ants by their shiny black/dark brown appearance and 1/8″ length.  Odorous Ants can be difficult to deal with once established because they’re versatile and hearty.  They can live indoors and out, and commute to your home via forty to fifty foot long trails. Like the Argentine Ants, they dig honeydew and will nest near sources of it in your yard. So keep the trees and shrubs trimmed, the mulch away from your foundation and most importantly keep those Aphids in check.

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