Collectively, ants are a species that have permeated almost every corner of the planet. While there are thousands of sub-species, combined their numbers are estimated to be as high as 100 quadrillion.
While they share common ancestry, ant species have splintered with each developing their own unique behavior and appearance. Identifying the species you are dealing with is crucial for effective treatment.
Behavior: Shred decaying wood to make nests. Do not consume wood but cause severe damage comparable to termites. Create satellite colonies with multiple queens.
Treatment: Perimeter pesticides for prevention. Baits for active colonies. Professional treatment recommended for significant damage.
Behavior: Aggressively swarm threats. Deliver painful stings that can trigger allergic reactions. Short lifespan of a few months.
Treatment: Specific fire ant baits and pesticides. Professional help recommended due to danger.
Behavior: Move erratically (not in pheromone trails). Search far from nest. Multiple queens per colony. Drawn to electrical components causing short circuits.
Treatment: Bait systems to reach queens. Professional help recommended.
Behavior: Peacefully coexist with other Argentine ants. Part of a global "super colony" spanning multiple continents.
Treatment: Easily treated with pesticides, baits, or borax/boric acid.
Behavior: Prefer sweets. Farm aphids for honeydew. Emit odor when crushed. Colonies can have multiple queens and tens of thousands of workers.
Treatment: Household pesticides on foraging trails. Baits for persistent problems.
Behavior: Use pheromone markers to build networks of sub-colonies with multiple queens. Can spread salmonella and streptococcus.
Treatment: Baits are most effective due to colony placement.
Behavior: Build colonies along curbs and cracks in pavement or foundation. Interior colonies often in wall cavities or subfloors.
Treatment: Exterior perimeter pesticide applications.
Behavior: Use pheromone trails. Build in dark undisturbed areas like wall cavities, under subfloors, rotting logs.
Treatment: Baits near foraging trails. Perimeter pesticides.
Our experts identify species and create targeted treatment plans.
Call (866) 326-2847Behavior: Harvest fungi. Cut leaves for substrate. Colonies reach tens of millions.
Treatment: Foliar sprays. Leafcutter-specific baits.
Behavior: Multiple queens, millions of ants. Satellite colonies on neighboring properties.
Treatment: Difficult - do not fall for baits. Use repellents.
Behavior: Steal larvae from other ant colonies. Access almost anything due to tiny size.
Treatment: Baiting systems and chemical pesticides.
Behavior: Nest outside. Single queen, few thousand workers. Feed on fire ants (beneficial).
Treatment: Pesticides, baits, or boiling water on mound.
Behavior: Collect seeds and grains. Live 15-30 years. Defoliate vegetation around mounds.
Treatment: Baits or soil drench to reach queen.
Behavior: Nest outdoors in parks, lawns, gardens. Feed on honeydew from aphids.
Treatment: Baits or soil drenches.
Behavior: Lift head above body. Recolonize galleries made by other pests.
Treatment: Baiting systems to reach queen.
Behavior: Soldiers have heads twice abdomen size. Create "forager tubes" like termite mud tubes.
Treatment: Baits and perimeter sprays.
If any of these species of ants are presenting a problem, it might be time to consider professional help. The team at EcoGuard Pest Management is licensed and trained to find and exterminate your ant problem. We use an integrated pest management approach that combines several treatment strategies to ensure maximum effectiveness.
The most common house ant species include fire ants, field ants, Argentine ants, carpenter ants, and odorous black ants. They are all found in California and present unique problems that may require professional ant exterminators.
Ant species identification is important to successfully treating an ant problem. Without an in-depth understanding of different ant species' appearances and behavior cues, it is difficult to differentiate such small insects. Having a professional ant exterminator inspect your property will help identify the type of ants and how to deal with them.
There are over 12,000 known ant species all around the world. An extremely small portion of those species are native to the United States and California. An even smaller portion are problematic and require pest control.
