Of all the various pests out there, ants are one of the most common on the planet. Ants can be found everywhere in the world, except for Antarctica (ironic, given the name!).
Being as common as it is, you’ve likely seen many ants in your life. But the last thing you really want is them invading your home. One of the problems with ants is that they can multiply quickly. Queen ants are said to produce up to 800 eggs per day!
Ants can quickly become a house-infesting problem.
For that reason, you probably want to know what to do about ants in the house. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most common types of ants in Pennsylvania and what you can do to deal with them.
Types of Ants in Pennsylvania
There are more than 12,000 species of ants in the world but not nearly as many are found here in PA.
Here are some of the more common ant species that you’re likely to see in Pennsylvania.
1. Odorous House Ants
This ant gets its name from the smelly odor that they release when threatened or crushed. They are also commonly found inside of people’s homes, hence the “House” part of their name.
Odorous House Ants are known to love sugar and will be attracted to spills (such as spilled juice). It’s important to clean up messes to keep these pests away.
Unfortunately, this ant can be difficult to address simply based on it being found in such large quantities. The Odorous House Ant can have multiple queens in a single colony!
2. Pavement Ants
As you might have guessed, this type of ant gets its name because it tends to hang around on sidewalks, patios, and other hardscaping.
Pavement ants are brown and will eat almost anything that’s out there. If you drop some food on your sidewalk or walkway, you’re very likely to see a bunch of Pavement Ants swarm it.
Given the fact that these ants are so prevalent around the outside of a home, they very commonly make their way inside. Their miniature size makes it easy for them to come in through the smallest cracks.
3. Carpenter Ants
Of the different types of ants in Pennsylvania, these are some of the most destructive. Carpenter Ants get their name due to their nest-building habits. They excavate wood to form tunnels for their nests. This can lead to structural damage in a home.
In general, people are often unsettled by Carpenter Ants simply due to their larger size (up to around a half inch). These ants are so large that you can actually hear them chewing. Plus, you’ll likely notice sawdust if you have Carpenter Ants somewhere in your home.
Keep in mind that Carpenter Ants can forage for up to 100 yards from their nest, so it’s possible they originated from a neighbor’s property. No matter where they started, this is a problem you want to get under control quickly since it can be so damaging.
How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House
While there are more than just 3 types of ants in Pennsylvania, those are the 3 most common that you’re likely to encounter.
Of course, you also want to know what to do about ants in your house.
To prevent ants from getting inside in the first place, you can take care to seal up cracks, keep food sealed in containers, clean up spills, and cut back limbs or branches touching the home (which can serve as “bridges” inside).
You will also want to check firewood piles as these are often a starting point for Carpenter Ants (as well as other potential pests). It’s always best to keep your firewood away from the home and cover it.
But even when you take all of these prevention steps, sneaky ants can still make their way inside. This is why we also recommend an ant control strategy that includes both indoor and outdoor treatments.
Ants originate outside of the home (and make their way in), so treating the exterior of your home with Quarterly Pest Control can be a highly effective solution in preventing these pests.
But we know that ants might already be inside. That’s why it’s so beneficial that our Quarterly Pest Control program does include interior treatment as well.
Choosing Pest Control in Pennsylvania
At Joshua Tree, our Quarterly Pest Control service will not only address ants but also spiders, stinging insects, centipedes, roaches, stink bugs, and more. These are all unwanted pests that we know you’d rather not have in your home.
With a quarterly program, you can anticipate four visits which is the industry standard for this type of service. However, issues can sometimes arise and at Joshua Tree, we offer callbacks when that’s the case. That means you get year-round protection with plenty of opportunities to stay in touch if you need us.
We believe you deserve to be able to know that your home is safe and not overrun by unwanted pests. With your wise choice in Quarterly Pest Control, you can gain that valuable peace of mind.
If you're interested in learning more about pest control services for your Pennsylvania home, contact us for a free pest control quote or give us a call at 610-365-4858 so that we can answer your questions.
Image Sources
Odorous House Ants - Pavement Ants - Carpenter Ants
