Ant are everywhere!
New Jersey is home to a number of ant species, including the very destructive carpenter ant, learn how ChemTec Pest Control can help protect your home and family from common ants.
As temperatures warm up, so do all those insects that have survived the brutal winter months. Stinging insects begin buzzing around, flies magically appear out of nowhere, and ants start showing up everywhere you look. In this article, we will take a look at the common ants in the New Jersey area, as well as strategies you can employ to try and keep them out of your home.
Argentine Ants
These ants are light to dark brown in color and have a single node between their thorax and abdomen. Argentine worker ants are typically just a little over 3 millimeters in length.
Carpenter Ants
These are the largest type of ants you may see inside your New Jersey home. They can be as long as 13 millimeters and are usually black. Some species have a reddish tint. They have a single, pointed node between the thorax and abdomen and, although the name carpenter suggests they might be helpful, this is far from the case. Carpenter ants are not just nuisance ants, they actively carve tunnels and galleries inside the wood of a home.
Odorous House Ants
These annoying little creatures that like to get into homes are around 3 millimeters in length and are dark brown to black in color. They have a beehive-shaped abdomen and 1 flat, hidden node between the thorax and abdomen. They get their name because they put off an unpleasant odor when squished. It has sometimes been described as the smell of rotten coconuts.
Field Ants
These ants have an unevenly rounded shape to the upper side of their body and they are a pale yellow, reddish-brown, black, or a combination of these colors. They are around 1/8th to 3/8 of an inch in length. These ants will deliver a painful bite if they are threatened or disturbed.
Little Black Ants
These ants measure between 1 and 2 millimeters and are shiny black in color. They have 2 nodes between their thorax and abdomen and although they are small, they tend to invade in very large numbers.
Pavement Ants
These little ants are dark brown to black in color and have parallel lines that are lighter in color running down the head and thorax. They measure in at around 1/8th of an inch in length. Although they are known to make nests under sidewalks and slabs, they will also invade homes in large numbers if they find a way in. These ants have the ability to bite and sting.
Pharaoh Ants
Difficult to exterminate, these ants are around 2 millimeters long, have a yellow to orange coloring and an abdomen that is capped with a darker brown. They are another type of ant that has 2 nodes between their thorax and abdomen.
Ant Prevention
- Do a detailed inspection of your foundation and walls and seal up any gaps or cracks you find. A caulking gun is a great tool to get this job done.
- To deter ants, only put pet food down at feeding times.
- Remove food sources from your yard that may draw ants near your perimeter to discourage ants from entering your home as well.
- Removing food sources from countertops can deter ants. Breadcrumbs under your toaster are a great example of a prime food source for ants.
- Remove water sources inside your home. Fix leaky pipes and fixtures and dry things out by using fans and/or dehumidifiers. Keeping things as dry as possible will deter other household pests as well.
- Vacuum frequently and keep floors free of food particles that ants may feed upon. If you have kids, remember to clean under the seat cushions of the couch and check between the couch and the wall for food sources.
- Remove water sources from around your home. This is especially attractive to carpenter ants which prefer moistened wood.
How ChemTec Can Help
While the above tips may help reduce the number of ants you have invading your home during the year, the best way to completely get rid of them, and keep them out, is to partner with a professional pest control company. For assistance with any kind of ants in or around your home, reach out to ChemTec Pest Control. Our home pest control professionals provide year-round, eco-friendly ant control that will eliminate all ants and their nests from your home and property. Call us today for prompt assistance.
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