Ant Identification & Prevention

Ants are social insects in the order Formicidae. Ants are social insects that live in colonies of thousands to hundreds of thousands of individuals. They have a complex caste system with the queen at the top and workers at the bottom.

Like all insects, ants have three body regions, six legs, and two antennae. Ants are very small insects, typically measuring between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch. They vary in color depending on the species but are typically brown, black, red, or yellow.

Though most types of ants are little more than a nuisance, some are more problematic. If you are having problems with ants reach out to us for general pest control in Marietta, GA.

Most ants are considered nuisance pests. This essentially means that they are annoying, but they pose little threat to people or property. With that said, many household ants do have the potential to contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria and pathogens.

In addition to the potential for contamination, some species bite or sting, which can be painful. Ant stings can be particularly dangerous for people allergic to ant venom.

While an ant infestation is not typically a dangerous situation, it is a major nuisance and should be dealt with swiftly.

Ant control is difficult partly because it is so easy to develop an ant problem. Ants are attracted to moisture, food, and nesting locations that your home provides. They are also tiny and can invade just about any structure with ease. Small cracks in your foundation or a minuscule tear in a window screen can provide an access point for ants. These pests are also extremely clever when it comes to finding food. This means just about anything can attract them, from your trash to your pantry to your leaky fridge to even your pet foods.

You'll find ants in your home just about anywhere there's food. This makes kitchens and pantries hotspots for ants – you may find them crawling across kitchen counters, floors, or on the shelves of your pantry. Ants also like moist, humid environments, so bathrooms and areas around appliances can also attract them. Ants also frequently nest in wall voids, which can make accessing and eliminating their colonies difficult.

Outdoors, you may find ants living in your lawn or even underneath or in cracks in your driveway. Ants that nest close to your home will likely eventually venture indoors, seeking food, water, and shelter.

Getting rid of ants can be a major problem for several reasons. One of the main reasons is there are just not that many effective ant control products on the over-the-counter market. Popular items like granules and sprays will often kill only a portion of the colony without killing the queen or even a majority of the workers. This often does nothing more than make the colony move a few feet in any direction.

Another reason ants are so difficult to eradicate once you have an established infestation is the size and complexity of their colonies. The fact that ant colonies are huge and complex entities means that eradicating them completely is best left to the professionals.

Here at Maple Leaf Lawn Care & Pest Control, we have the tools and techniques to handle virtually all the ant species endemic to our home state. We won't just temporarily reduce your property's ant population. We can eliminate your ant infestation entirely. So if you can't seem to get rid of the ants on your property, give us a call for lawn services in Marietta, GA, or visit our contact page to get started.

The good news is there's a lot more you can do to prevent an ant infestation than to get rid of one. All you have to do is follow these ant prevention tips:

• Keep all trash on your property covered at all times.
• Feed pets and immediately put uneaten food and bowls away.
• Fix moisture issues like leakage and condensation.
• Store all pantry foods in airtight containers.

Following these tips can help make your house a more hostile place for all ant varieties and can mean you never need ant extermination. However, if you wind up with an infestation despite your best efforts, don't hesitate to contact us for turf management services today.