Ant Control Information

Ant Control

Ants are social insects living in colonies comprised of one or a few queens, and many workers. The queen generally stays deep and safe within a nest. Most ants that you see are workers and these are all females. Depending on species, workers may be similar in size or come in a range of sizes.

Ants feed on both dead and living insects, favoring aphid and scale honeydew. In homes, forage primarily for sweets. They travel in both wondering patterns and set trails. Trails common along branches of trees, foundations, sidewalks, baseboards, and edges of carpets. When disturbed, become erratic with their abdomens raised in the air.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are one of the most valuable insects we have on earth. They chew up tons of wood and turn it into fine sawdust that rots and provides compost for the new growth. Because they enter man-made structures they are considered the most destructive common insect pest we have in Canada.

There are two common species of carpenter ants found in Canada. (There are others)

1.) Modoc: All Black

2. Vicinus: Blackhead, rusty red thorax, and black abdomen.

Most carpenter ant species have other similar characteristics.

More Information and Tips on Ant Control:

• Social insects
• Live in colonies comprised of a few queens and many workers
• Queens usually stay deep and safe in the nest
• Come in a range of sizes
• Feed on both dead and living insects
• Prefer aphids and scale honeydew
• In homes - forage for sweets
• May travel in trails or wandering patterns
• Trails are common on tree branches, along with the foundations, sidewalks, baseboards, and edges of carpets
• When disturbed, become erratic with abdomen raised in the air
• If an Interior treatment is required, all people and pets may need to vacate the premises for 4 - 6 hours
   

More Information and Tips on Acrobat Ant Control:

• Nest in moist and decaying wood structures
• Invade wood cavities, baseboards, doors, wood frames, firewood, and trees
• In homes, prefer sweets, fruit, and meat
• Exterior prefer mealy bugs and dead or alive insects
• Brown or yellowish brown to black or reddish black
• Workers are 2 - 4 mm
• Queens can be up to 11 mm
• Heart shaped abdomen which they can raise
   
• More Information and Tips on Pharaoh Ant Control:
• Very tiny ants with 2 nodes between thorax and abdomen
• Antennae have 12 segments
• Workers are 2 mm and are yellow to light brown
• Queens are 4 mm and reddish in color
• Prefer warm, humid areas
• Often found along drains, pipes, and wiring
• Will infest anywhere food is available
• If an Interior treatment is required, all people and pets may need to vacate the premises for 4 - 6 hours
   
• More Information and Tips on Pavement Ant Control:
• Light brown to black in color
• 2.5 - 3 mm long
• Visible grooves on head and thorax
• Single pair of spines on the thorax
• Nest under driveways, sidewalks, foundations, concrete slabs
• In winter, will enter homes through cracks and small holes in windows, doors, basement floors or walls
• Consume a variety of foods and dead insects
• Can carry germs and disease contaminating human and pet food