Ant Exterminators: Facts, Identification & Control
Ants are very important to our eco-system, understanding facts about them will help you keep them out of your living spaces
Sugar ants control exterminators seattle,Eastside of king county surrounding areas
The sugar ants’ name comes from their liking for sugar, but they are attracted to other savory food So, are you ready to get rid of sugar ants? Good. Let us begin with controlling a sugar ant infestation and then move on to killing sugar ants. If you want to control sugar ants, you need to keep your kitchen sink clean and dry. Sugar ants love a dirty sink and the water you leave them to help wash down the leftovers. Make sure to rinse out any dishes you’re going to leave in the sink over night. And when you do clean the dishes, make sure you rinse and wipe down the entire sink to make certain you haven’t left residual sweets, food, or moisture behind. If you’re really picky about cleaning, you might even want to try pouring a little bleach down the drain to make sure the smell of rotting food doesn’t attract more ants to your kitchen. Dish drains should also be emptied and wiped down before the end of the day.
Sugar ant colonies can be found in soil, between rocks, in holes in wood and around the twigs of trees or shrubs. When sugar ants build their nests in soil, they can be recognized by large dirt hills surrounding the colonies’ entrances. They can be found foraging under house lights and in streets during warm summer months and prefer warm and humid climates. While Odorous House Ants are also often referred to as Sugar Ants, they are sometimes referred to as: Grease Ants, House Ants, Kitchen Ants, Piss Ants, Sweet Ants, Odorous Ants, and Odiferous Ants.
ODOROUS HOUSE ANTS – GET RID OF ODOROUS HOUSE ANTS
Depending on where you leave, your sugar ants may actually be Argentine ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, or some other kind of ants.
Grease ants, also referred to as protein-loving ants, prefer proteins or fats over sugars. This doesn’t mean they won’t eat sweets, but they’re more interested in food with some protein content in it. Grease ants include little black ants, big-headed ants, and pavement ants, among others.
To prevent odorous house ants, eliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes ants use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. ants like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Inside odorous house ants usually construct their nests in wall voids especially around hot water pipes and heaters, in crevices in sinks, cupboards, etc. Outside, they are found in exposed soil, usually shallow, often located beneath a board, brick, stone walk, etc. Odorous house ants are most likely to enter buildings when their honeydew supply or sweet supply of food is reduced such as during rainy weather or with leaf fall in the autumn. Odorous house ants are small ants about 1/8th inch long and dark brown in color. Their name comes from the disagreeable odor similar to the smell of rotten coconuts, that is given off when the worker ants are crushed. Odorous(sugar) house ants commonly nest outdoors in the soil under stones, logs, mulch, debris and other items.
Little black ants will also nest indoors in wall and floor voids, particularly in moist or warm areas. If only a few workers (wingless ants) are observed in the house it is an indication that they are nesting outdoors and entering the house in search of food. If winged swarmers are found indoors, or if workers are consistently seen in great abundance, it likely indicates they are nesting within the house. Odorous(sugar) house ants regularly forage for food along well-traveled trails. They feed on dead insects, sweets and meats. One of their favorite foods is the sweet honeydew produced by plant sap feeding insects such as aphids and mealybugs. Control of odorous house ants should begin with an attempt to locate the origin of the ants. Careful and frequent observation may be necessary to develop an opinion about the source. Ants entering from outdoors can be discouraged by sealing as many cracks and gaps in exterior walls as possible.
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