Say Good Riddance To Ants In Your Nassau County Home

Types Of Ants Common To The Area

Do you know how many different species of ants there are in the world? Experts estimate there are around 14,000 species, with several thousand still unclassified. Of all those ant species, there are four ants that commonly present a pest problem for Nassau County property owners. They are odorous house ants, pharaoh ants, pavement ants, and carpenter ants. While there are certainly more species we could discuss, these are enough to illustrate the challenge ants represent.

Odorous House Ants

These ants live up to their name. When you crush them, they create a foul odor. Some describe it as a rotten coconut smell, but there has actually been a research study done that determined that the true smell of odorous house ants was more like bleu cheese. We hope you never have the opportunity to test this research in your home. It is not a great smell, no matter what you think it might smell like.

These ants look like little black ants because they are dark brown to black in color. But they are not little black ants, which are known scientifically as Monomorium minimum. Odorous house ants range in size from 1/16 to ⅛ inches. They are fond of sweets and are drawn to warm human spaces.

Pharaoh Ants

These ants are known for their ability to make people sick. They spread diseases like streptococcus, clostridium, and staphylococcus. Are you familiar with someone getting strep throat or a staph infection? These are examples of these types of diseases. Pharaoh ants are pale with a yellowish or reddish tint and darker abdomen. They are about 1/16 of an inch long, and all of the workers are the same size. These ants are prone to budding when disturbed, which can turn one colony into several.

Pavement Ants

These ants are another ant species you might mistake for little black ants. They are dark brown to black in color and are 1/8 of an inch long. As their name indicates, they have an attraction to pavement. They're also attracted to stone, concrete, and other hard materials. They build their nests underground alongside driveways, walkways, and foundation walls. Their proximity to foundation walls can get them in trouble because it often leads them to enter structures.

Carpenter Ants

These ants have the word "carpenter" in their name, but don't expect them to come to your house and fix anything. They are destructive pests that tunnel inside structural timbers – though they target decaying and moisture-damaged timbers first. They are the largest ants listed here at 1⁄2 to 5⁄8 of an inch in length and are entirely black or black with dark red portions. Even though they're large ants, they're still ants. So, once again, you may think you have a problem with little black ants if you see black carpenter ants. Look for the frass these ants produce in order to zero in on their nests. 

These are the ants you're most likely to see. If you find another kind of ant, take a photo and send it to us. Our on-staff entomologist is happy to identify the ant for you. We can also tell you what you can expect from the ants you're seeing. Let's take a look at a few of the things the ants above will do when they get into your home.

Ants In The Home Can Create Many Problems

If you have an ant infestation, there is one thing you can count on: Those ants are going to get into things. They get into trash cans, cabinets, drawers, food packages, appliances, electronics, powerboxes, outlets, and more. When they do, they can cause all sorts of issues to arise.

• Ants can contaminate the food in your kitchen and pantry by spreading harmful bacteria, such as salmonella.
• Ants can chew on wiring in your appliances or inside your walls.
• Ants can cause electronics to stop working when they climb on circuit boards. 
• Carpenter ants can hollow out wooden timbers and cause floors to sink.

Most of the time, we get calls because ants are an incredible nuisance. But, they can pose problems that you may not connect to them. It is best to keep ants out of your home if you can help it. Let's take a look at some effective ant prevention tips that will help you achieve this goal.