Ants (Household Ants)/ Red Imported Fire Ants Control

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(Polyrhachis dives - Photo captured by William Hung of Johnson Group)

Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera and are close relatives of bees and wasps. They are familiar insects that are easily recognized, especially in their common wingless adult forms, known as workers. However, winged forms of ants, which leave the nest in large numbers in warm weather to mate and establish new colonies, are often mistaken for winged termites, which also leave their nests to mate. Ants and termites can be distinguished by three main characteristics:

• The ant’s body is constricted, giving it the appearance of having a thin waist; the termite’s body is not constricted.
• The ant’s hind wings are smaller than its front wings; the termite’s front and hind wings are about the same size. (Shortly after their flights, both ants and termites lose their wings, so wings may not always be present.)
• Winged female and worker ants have elbowed antennae; the termite’s antennae are not elbowed.

Nest

• Ants usually nest in soil; nest sites vary with species but are often found next to buildings, along sidewalks, or in close proximity to food sources such as trees or plants that harbor honeydew-producing insects.
• They also construct nests under boards, stones, tree stumps or plants, and sometimes under buildings or other protected places.
• Ants often enter buildings seeking food and water, warmth and shelter, or a refuge from dry, hot weather or flooded conditions. They may appear suddenly in buildings if other food sources become unavailable or weather conditions change.
• In temperate climates the pharaoh ant nests indoors preferring warm, moist locations, often in wall voids, under flooring, or near hot water pipes or heating systems but is also found nesting outdoors in warmer parts

Colony

• A new colony is typically established by a single newly mated queen. After weeks or months of confinement underground, she lays her first eggs.
• After the eggs hatch, she feeds the white, legless larvae with her own metabolized wing muscles and fat bodies until they pupate.
• Several weeks later, the pupae transform into sterile female adult workers, and the first workers dig their way out of the nest to collect food for themselves, for the queen (who continues to lay eggs), and for subsequent broods of larvae.
• As numbers increase, new chambers and galleries are added to the nest. After a few years, the colony begins to produce winged male and female ants, which leave the nest to mate and form new colonies.

(Red Tree Ant - Photo captured by William Hung of Johnson Group)

Common household and structural ants

Argentine Ant - Linepithema humile
Worker is 2.2 to 2.8mm long and has a one-segmented petiole. Antennae are 12-segmented without a club. The body varies in color from light to dark brown.

Odorous House Ant - Tapinoma
Worker is 2.4 to 3.3mm long and has a one-segmented petiole. The body is a uniform brown to dark, and when crused, emit a rotten, coconut-like odor.

Bigheaded Ant - Pheidole
The workers are dimorphic (two size classes), ranging from 1.5 to 4.5mm. They have a two-segmented petiole and a pair of spines on the propodeum. The body color varies from dark brown through shades of red to light yellow.

Pharoah Ant - Monomorium pharaonis
Worker is about 2mm long, monomorphic and has a two-segmented petiole. Body color varies from yellowish or light brown to reddish with the tip of the gaster darkened.

Pavement Ant - Tetramorium caespitum
Worker is 2.5 to 3mm long and monomorphic (one size). It has a two-segmented petiole. Body color varies from light to dark brown to blackish.

Carpenter Ant - Camponotus
Worker is about 5 to 10mm long and polymorphic. It has one-segmented petiole in a form of a vertical scale. The thorax is evenly conves or rounded on the dorsal surface. The body color is dark or red.

Red Imported Fire Ants - Solenopsis invicta
Worker is 1.6 to 5mm long and polymorphic. It has two-segmented petiole and a stinger. The clypeus has three teeth. The body color is an almost uniform dark reddish-brown.

(Bigheaded Ant - Photo captured by William Hung of Johnson Group)

Management

There is no better defense against ants than a tailor-made treatment plan from Johnson Group

Keeping pests in their places
“Think of them as animals that are living in nature, they're just doing their jobs. But when they move into our homes and yards, then we call them pests”. Preventing insects from getting inside is always the best approach, it can be done by improving sanitation practices, installing proper physical devices as well as an effective building maintenance programs.

We work to ensure that insects or wildlife and their habitats are conserved while preparing any pest management or cleaning program.

To achieve a long-term control and prevent reinfestation, the below contributing factors are always useful for almost all cases.

Prevention

Prevention is always the best approach against all pests including ants.

1. Clean up sugary spills.
2. Eliminate food sources inside the building or prevent access to suitable food by keeping it in ant-proof containers.
3. Caulk cracks and crevices around foundations that provide entry from outside.
4. Provide a dry, vegetation-free border, such as gravel or stones, around the perimeter of house foundations to discourage nest building; wood chip mulches and landscape plants provide a good nesting environment.
5. Remove trees that consistently host ants and are adjacent to houses . Trim branches and limbs of trees and shrubs that touch the building to keep ants from gaining access via these routes.
6. Manage honeydew-producing insects such as aphids, whiteflies, psyllids, and soft scales on plants near the house. These honeydew producers often support large colonies of ants that subsequently invade homes.

Sanitation Practices

Ant management requires diligent efforts and the combined use of mechanical, cultural, sanitation, and often chemical methods of control. It is unrealistic and impractical to attempt to totally eliminate ants from an outdoor area. Focus your management efforts on excluding ants from buildings or valuable plants and eliminating their food and water sources.

Reducing outdoor sources of ants near buildings may reduce the likelihood of ants coming indoors. Become aware of the seasonal cycle of ants in your area and be prepared for annual invasions by caulking and baiting before the influx.

Structure

When ants invade your home, take immediate action i.e. caulk cracks and crevices around foundations, sponge invaders with soapy water as soon as you see them, plug up ant entryways with caulk or petroleum jelly.

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Ask for help from our Pest Management Professionals

With more than 60 years proven track records, Johnson Group is definitely the pioneer of pest control provider within the industry. Johnson Group delivers the world's best value in pest control. You’ll receive written specifications, an inspection report and customized treatment programs after your consultation/inspection. During warranty period, if pests happen to return following your treatment, we promise to re-treat the problem at no additional charge.

Residual Pesticides
Residual pesticides are most effective when applied directly to the nest or breeding place. Besides, general application around the perimeter of a building using a residual water-based formulation can be an effective treatment for ants. It is however, for treatment within indoor areas, our technicians will limit the spray to where it is needed and apply Crack-and-Crevices Spraying only, this can protect your family from unnecessary contact of pestiicide, and at the same time, helping protecting the environment by reducing the use of pesticide.

Baitings
Application of baits can reduce pesticide use, and have numerous advantages though baits tend to be slower acting than direct spray.

• baits are most target-specific than pesticides
• baits are more cost-effective compared than labor-intensive inspections to locate nests (which are often unsuccessful) and treatment strategies that involve invasive techniques like drilling
• baits can be used in sensitive places such as kitchens and food preparation areas, and around electrical equipment

**Reference sources: UC IPM Online; Handbook of Pest Control-Mallis