Ant Identification

What are ants?

Ants are social creatures that live and work in vast groups, and while the individual members of the colony may be small, when they work together, the damage they cause can be significant. Ants are one of the most common pests that Mississippi property owners deal with throughout the year. Our warm, humid weather allows ants to remain a threat no matter the season.

Ants can be identified by their three distinct body regions: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Ants have short antennae and come in various colors including black, brown, red, and yellow. Though ants all tend to look the same to most people, it is important to realize that many different species live in our area, and each has unique needs and behaviors.

In our area of Mississippi, some of the most common ants that invade homes, yards, and other structures include the following:

Are ants dangerous?

Ants cause many problems when they decide to use our yards and homes as a place to nest and forage for food. Besides being annoying, ants can also cause other problems including creating unsightly nests, contaminating food, spreading bacteria and diseases, delivering painful bites and stings, and causing structural damage.

Having ants living in your yard or home is never ideal. Ants, like other pests, should be removed as quickly as possible to protect your structure and family from the dangers and damage they cause.

Why do I have an ant problem?

Our yards often provide ants with many options for food. Possible foraging sites for ants that can be found in most yards include trash cans or recycling bins, gardens, compost, and outdoor eating areas.

As ants are wandering about foraging for food in our yards, it is common for them to find a way inside through spaces under doors, cracks in the foundation, or through damaged window or door trim. Once inside, if moisture and food sources are present, they may decide to build a satellite nest. Ants are persistent and difficult pests to control.

Where will I find ants?

Leaving pheromone trails as they travel, ants alert other colony members to any food sources they find. You will often see long trails of ants moving around your yard through the grass, over walkways, and through flowerbeds and gardens. Outdoor nesting sites include the damp soil under mulch or landscaping ties, under leaf piles or woodpiles, under fallen trees, and in tree stumps. Some ant species also like to nest out in open sunny areas like the middle of our lawns.

Ants that have moved inside your home won't hide like some other common household-invading pests. You will see them out and about crawling over counters, floors, and tables, searching for food to bring back to the nest. Indoor nesting sites include wall voids, the spaces behind cabinets, under floors, and above ceilings; certain ants will nest within a home's structural wood or inside electrical equipment.

How do I get rid of ants?

Having a professional come to your property to identify the ant species making themselves at home inside your house is essential. At McCary Pest Control, our professionals will solve your property's ant problems by performing a detailed inspection, providing treatment using eco-friendly products, and providing a follow-up treatment schedule that will keep ants from returning.

We know how important it is to make sure all the nesting sites and individual ants are found and treated; by partnering with us, you will have peace of mind knowing the job is done right! Get in touch with us to learn more about our ant control services in Tupelo, MS and the surrounding communities.

How can I prevent ants in the future?

To help you avoid problems with ants, we want to offer these helpful ant control and prevention tips:

• Make your yard less attractive to ants by eliminating as many sources of food as possible. Place lids on trash cans, keep outdoor eating areas clear of leftover food, and maintain garden areas.
• Remove brush piles, fallen trees, woodpiles, and other clutter from your yard where ants can nest.
• Eliminate sources of moisture that could attract ants to your property. Repair leaky pipes, fix clogged gutters, and make sure there is weatherstripping around windows and doors.
• Utilize dehumidifiers to keep your home as dry as possible.
• Don't allow ants to move in and out of your home easily. Carefully look over your home's exterior and repair any openings that may allow ants and other pests inside. Remember, if ants are getting inside, so will other pests. Caulk cracks in the foundation, repair damaged door trim, and install door sweeps.
• Invest in ongoing ant control treatments for your home.

Give us a call today at McCary Pest Control to learn more about our home pest control plans and commercial pest control services.