Did you know that ants are perhaps the most abundant insects in the world? It’s true! In fact, it is estimated that there might be between 10 trillion and 100,000 trillion ants in the world, according to the Encylopaedia Britannica. Knowing that, it is no surprise that many people find themselves with a full-blown ant infestation.
Ants are also tiny, but don’t let their size fool you. When these tiny insects work together, they can cause enormous amounts of damage. That is why it is so important to discover potential ant infections before things go too far. Read on for a few ant infestation warning signs.
Foragers Are Present
Foragers are worker ants who have the responsibility of searching for and locating a food source that will provide for the entire colony. You can notice the appearance of foragers yourself when you look down and see a group of ants carrying large pieces of food on their backs.
Foraging Trails Are Present
Believe it or not, you can actually smell ants. If you don’t buy it, don’t be surprised – the smell is so faint that we probably wouldn’t even know what we smelled anyway. Still, what we smell is the pheromones that are released by the ants. This is how they communicate while planning their invasion.
Sawdust-Like Materials Are Present
Also known as “frass,” the presence of sawdust-like material is a sign that ants are making a home on or near your property. Produced by most wood-boring insects – and especially carpenter ants – frass is essentially the material that is kicked out of the tunnels while the ants make their way through most forms of wood.
If you notice frass around your property, understand that you may not be faced with an ant infestation – you could have termites. How can you tell the difference? Ant tunnels in wood are cleaner, while termite tunnels are covered with mud. Knowing what type of infestation you are dealing with is essential so that you know how to cease the problem.
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Whether you think you are about to be infested or you are amid an ant catastrophe, Stewart Termite & Pest Control can come to the rescue. We have been in business since 1987, and we have seen everything. So if you have a pest problem, give us a call at 800-953-3463 today.