We know them as little insect soldiers, invading the kitchen to steal every last crumb they can find. Ants don’t come to play. If you’re lucky, you’ll only see one creeping around your floor. But in the unfortunate event that a whole colony has gotten wind of the scraps of food on your counter, you’re in for a rough time.
Wondercide takes ants very seriously. As tiny as they may be, when the ants come marching in, we have to do something about it. To help you conquer them, we’d like to provide a better understanding of these small pests. The more you know, the better you can prepare and ant-icipate when and where these bugs will strike. And of course, we can help you get rid of them!
Should I worry about ants?
Their presence is a natural annoyance, but should you be worried about an ant infestation for reasons beyond disrupting your peace? The short answer is yes, but not all ants warrant concern. In addition to their contribution to wood damage and mild inconveniences, some ants can be a physical problem. Below are some of the ants that don’t get along well with people.
Fire ants: These feisty critters are locked and loaded ready to bite and sting. Their bites tend to be painful with a lingering burning sensation that comes from injecting venom. Fire ants are generally found in the southeast of the United States as well as lower California, New Mexico, and Arizona. You can identify a fire ant by its light, reddish-amber color.
You may not assume ants are a part of the biting bug community, but some are. With over 12,000 known species, these industrious insects exhibit a remarkable variety of behaviors, habits, and interactions with their environments.
Field ants: Most ants won’t cause serious damage to your grass or vegetation but can create obstacles around the house. Field ants will build their mounds in dead grass which can get up to a foot tall. These mounds may be a nuisance when mowing the lawn or setting up outdoor seating And in some cases, ants can contaminate food, which is why it’s extra important to be vigilant of our kitchen spaces.
Odorous house ants: These ants are common throughout the United States and especially prevalent along the west coast and in the midwest. These ants are tiny, black to brown in color, and mighty when it comes to taking up residence in yards and homes. The ants get their name from the odor they emit if crushed, which many describe as blue cheese or rotten fruit. Common nesting areas include inside walls, behind baseboards, under sinks, and even around electrical outlets.
The yellow crazy ant: This international insect can be found all over the world from New Zealand to Sweden, as well as the southeast coast of the U.S. and Texas. The yellow crazy ant is an opaque yellow color, different from most other ants. Their bites are not harmful to humans but can pose a threat to other insects.
Why do I have ants?
If you find that your personal space has been taken over by little critters, there are a few reasons why this may be. First, do you have crumbs, scraps, or open containers of food lying around in your home? Maybe a can of something spilled in the back of your fridge or some crumbs from a late-night snacking session got tucked into the corner of your floor. Most ants crave sweets such as honey and syrup. Ants are also the body-builders of the bug community. They crave high-protein foods such as nuts and meat, which is why they like to travel indoors to your kitchen.
Different ants have different preferences for their residencies. The larger yellow ant can be found in bricks, concrete surfaces, patios, and in walls. The pavement ant lurks under sidewalks and driveways. The acrobat ant prefers rotting logs and tree branches. When outside, most ants like to hang out in logs, stumps, or under rocks. You may also find certain ants under the basement floor or in cracks in the walls. All of these natural features in your backyard or home could contribute to why you’ve got an ant problem.
The terrain surrounding your home could also play a role in attracting ants. Ants tend to dig underground and carry dirt back to build an anthill. Worker ants move more soil than any other organism on Earth. That’s why you’ll probably find anthills in the parts of your yard that carry a lot of sand or soil.
How do I manage ants?
We’ve got some good news: The ant diagnosis is curable. But how do you manage an infestation? The first step you can take is to operate a clean and tidy home with as few food scraps and spills as possible. Wiping down counters after cooking or snacking, sweeping regularly, vacuuming all surfaces, cleaning the trash cans and sinks, and routinely checking spaces that hold food for spills and leaks are great ways to help prevent an ant invasion.
In addition, ants often gravitate towards wet spaces, especially carpenter ants who like to use water-damaged areas to build tunnels. So, by fixing any eroded or damp spaces around your home, you’re creating a less welcoming space for ants to enter. Maybe do a little scavenger hunt around your house to find any cracks or open holes in the walls where ants might do some digging. Seal up the holes with caulk to block these unwanted guests from sneaking in.
But what do you do if you’re too late and the ants have already taken over? Step one: don’t panic! Let us offer a helpful solution. Wondercide’s Ant and Roach Spray for Home + Kitchen will provide a cruelty-free method of quickly killing these pesky critters. Simply spray the ants from about 18 inches away thoroughly until the bugs have died and you won the fight. Wipe up the residue and fallen ants.
In addition, Wondercide’s Indoor Pest Control has your back when it comes to these little pests. With this spray, you can mark your territory and kill ants you see while leaving a pleasant aroma of your choosing; cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary, or lemongrass.
And we’ve got you covered for the outside, too! Wondercide’s Outdoor Pest Control works wonders on ants as well as other annoying pests like mosquitoes and ticks. These plant-powered products are a great way to keep the ants at bay and they’re safe around pets and family when used as directed. If you’re wondering how to get started with your outdoor protection, just follow our step-by-step guide!
For those who love to garden and are worried that the anti-ant measures you’ve taken will prevent the good bugs like butterflies and bees from buzzing about, don’t worry! The residue from Wondercide’s products is safe for pollinators and lab-proven to kill the bad bugs.
That’s it – the ultimate guide to ants! Hopefully, this information doesn’t make you too antsy. With this knowledge, you're now equipped to handle these tiny armies when they invade your personal space. Say goodbye to pesky insect colonies disrupting your life and welcome in a new sanctuary of bugless serenity.
