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Ants will travel far to find food, water, and shelter. They will establish multiple pheromone trails leading up to their food source, which can make them a nightmare to get rid of on your own.
The first step in eliminating an ant infestation in your home is to identify the species of ant you are dealing with. Not all ants are created equal, so understanding the behaviors of each species type is critical in developing the proper ant control strategy.
Request an appointment today to protect your property from ants. Call a Western Exterminator ant control expert by calling 800-937-8398 or you can set up an appointment using our online form.
What do ants look like?
- Size: 1/16" to 1/8" in length
- Color: Brown, black, or red
- Body: Divided into three distinct sections: head, thorax, and abdomen with elbowed antennae
Common ant species
There are many ant species scattered across the world. Some of the more common ant species in the United States include:
Black ants
(Ochetellus) - Black ants scavenge in kitchens, garbage, and dog excrement, and can potentially spread diseases such as salmonella. They come in all sizes and can be found all across the West.
Carpenter ants
(Camponotus) - Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they like to live in it. They burrow in and set up elaborate nests that can significantly damage wood structures.
Fire ants
(Solenopsis invicta) - Fire ants are small red ants that can create huge swarms when a nest is disturbed or destroyed. These are one of the few species in North America that sting.
Harvester ants
(Pogonomyrmex spp.) - Harvester ants do not invade homes and are commonly found outdoors. They are known for harvesting or collecting seeds to store in their nests, which can be up to three feet deep into the ground.
Odorous house ants
Odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) are very common and found throughout the United States. Their nests are usually outdoors, but they will travel long distances for food and water.
Thief ants
(Solenopsis molesta) - Thief ants feed on proteins like meat, blood, fats, other insects, etc. Once indoors, they can be difficult to find as they are extremely small, meaning they can also get into areas that other ants cannot.
Signs of an ant infestation
Ants multiply quickly, so early detection is key. Here are some signs you have an ant infestation:
Visible ant trails
If you see a steady line of ants moving along walls, floors, or countertops, it means they are following scent trails left by other worker ants. This is how they communicate and guide their colony members to food sources.
Some species, like pavement ants, odorous house ants, and Argentine ants, form long, busy trails.
Nesting sites
Ants build their nests in hidden places, such as inside walls, under floors, in soil, or in tree stumps. Some ants, like slave-making ants, invade other ant colonies and take over. Argentine ants form massive supercolonies that stretch for miles, making them very difficult to remove.
If you see small piles of dirt, sand, or wood shavings near cracks or baseboards, ants may be nesting nearby. Some species, like fire ants, prefer to nest in soil forming large, dome-shaped mounds in yards, parks, and fields.
Discarded wings
When ants start a new colony, winged male ants and queen ants fly out in swarms to mate. After mating, the males die, and the queens shed their wings before settling down to lay eggs.
If you find small, clear wings near windows, doorways, or light fixtures, it’s a sign that ants have recently swarmed and may be starting a new nest inside or near your home.
Food contamination
Ants are constantly looking for food. They prefer sweet and greasy foods but will eat almost anything, including crumbs and even pet food.
Some ants take care of aphids like farmers care for animals, protecting them in exchange for the sweet honeydew they produce. However, ants don’t just rely on aphids for food—they will also search for anything they can eat. If you notice ants inside food containers, on your countertops, or near your trash, it means they have found a reliable food source in your home.
Damaged wood
Carpenter ants—a species of black ant—don’t eat wood, but they chew through it to create tunnels for their nests. Over time, this can weaken wooden structures, causing serious damage to homes.
Signs of carpenter ants can include sawdust-like debris, rustling sounds inside walls, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t leave mud tubes, but their damage can still be costly to repair.
As well as being able to identify the signs of an ant infestation, knowing how to keep ants away is important. If you spot any of the above signs, it’s best to contact our professional ant exterminators for an effective solution. It may be tempting to try and resolve ant problems on your own, but DIY methods often only provide temporary relief and don’t address the root of the problem.
Ant control
See our ant control methods and treatments to keep your house free of ants.
What you need to know about ants
Habitat
Ants will nest in void spaces inside of a property and in the soil around the foundation of a home or business. Depending on the weather, ants may move their nests to other areas. In the colder months, ants will overwinter in void spaces in a structure, allowing them to be active in your home or business year-round.
Lifecycle
Ants go through a complete metamorphosis, and the entire process can take around 60 days to complete. They go through four life stages including egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
Colony
Ant colonies can last for several years as one ant colony can have over 10,000 members. Some ant species have colonies that have two queens, resulting in a bigger colony as each queen can lay thousands of eggs.
Feeding
Many species of ant will eat just about anything they can find. Some species feed only on plants while others prefer to feed on sweets or proteins.
How do ants communicate?
Ants have special ways to share information. They use pheromones, touch, and even sounds to send messages. Pheromones are chemicals that ants leave behind to help others find food or warn of danger.
For example, when worker ants forage, they create scent trails so other ants can follow. Some ants, like Argentine ants, use pheromones to build huge supercolonies. Ants also use their antennae to touch and "talk" to each other. Some ants, like slave-making ants, trick other ants by using the right signals.
Another way ants communicate is through trophallaxis, which means sharing food mouth-to-mouth. This helps spread food and also lets ants know where to find more.
Leaf-cutter ants even make tiny sounds by rubbing their bodies together to warn their colony. These communication methods help ants work together, stay safe, and find food.
Types of ant nests
Ants build different types of nests depending on their species and where they live.
- Soil nests – Many ants build mounds in the soil. These nests can get very large, and fire ants will fiercely defend them.
- Wood nests – Carpenter ants dig tunnels inside wood. They don’t eat the wood, but they chew through it, which can weaken homes and buildings.
- Plant nests – Some ants live inside plants, making nests in tree bark or hollow stems.
- Stolen nests – Slave-making ants steal workers from other nests and make them do all the work.
- Supercolonies – Some ants also form supercolonies with thousands of connected nests.
- Bivouacs - Army ants form a temporary living structure called a bivouac, made up of their own bodies, which shelters the queen and young ants.
Interested in learning more about these social insects? Check out our article: 10 interesting facts about ants.
Need help with an ant problem?
If you’ve spotted signs of an ant infestation, don’t wait. Ant colonies grow fast, and some species can cause serious damage. Western Exterminator has expert pest control solutions to help identify and eliminate ants from your home or business. Contact us today!
Frequently asked questions
How do you get rid of ants?
To successfully ensure complete elimination of an ant infestation, you must get rid of the whole ant colony and their nest.
How long do ants live?
Ants typically have a relatively short lifespan. Some ants live for only a couple of days, while others can live for a few years. An ant’s life all depends on a few things, such as the ant species type and colony caste, nest location, and food and water access.
Does one ant mean there are more?
The short answer to this question is yes. The ants that you actually see in your home are only a small percentage of the whole ant colony in the nest.
Can ants hurt people?
Each ant species poses different health risks and problems. For example, fire ants can sting people.
What brings ants into the house?
Ants are looking for food, shelter, and water. If you have any tiny openings in your home (holes in window or door screens, cracks in the foundation, or openings under doorways), in addition to crumbs in your kitchen or food left out, ants will find their way into your home.
Where do ants live?
Ants can live in many places like soil, wood, or inside buildings. Fire ants build large nests in the ground, while carpenter ants make homes inside wood. Some species form huge colonies that stretch for miles, called supercolonies.
What do ants do all day?
Ants are social insects and spend their time searching for food (also known as foraging), protecting their nest, and caring for eggs. Queen ants spend a lot of time egg-laying. Some ants also share food with each other to help feed the whole colony.