Featured Creature: Ants!

It may come as no surprise that ants have been deemed the #1 nuisance pest in America. After all, who hasn’t had a run in with one of these pesky little critters on your kitchen counter, on your bathroom sink, or found a big colony of them out on your sidewalk?

The 3 most prevalent species of ants in Pennsylvania are Odorous House Ants, Pavement Ants, and Carpenter Ants.

Pavement Ants

Pavement Ants are a little bit larger than Odorous House Ants, generally about 1/8 inch

Pavement Ant

in length. They invade buildings to forage for food throughout the year, but they do not colonize in homes. Their nests are outdoors under stones, along curbs, or pavement cracks. Pavement Ants are omnivorous, but they prefer greasy and sweet foods.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are very important insects when it comes to the balance of nature, as

Carpenter Ant

they burrow and nest in dead trees and logs, helping to enhance the decay of wood. However, this practice can cause extensive structural damage when a carpenter ant colony invades your home and is left untreated. Carpenter ants do not consume wood, as they are not able to digest cellulose, they hollow out wood to create galleries to colonize and nest.

Odorous House Ants

The odorous house ant gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it emits

Odourous House Ant

when crushed. They like to eat sweets, preferably melon. They typically live for several years, making their home in exposed soil and wall cracks. They do not pose a health risk, but care should be taken to prevent and eradicate them as they can contaminate food.

 All of these ants, however persistent they may seem, can be easily controlled with an effective Integrated Pest Management program. Call Green Pest Solutions at 855-312-7157 to schedule a free inspection or speak with one of our knowledgeable and friendly pest control professionals!