Pests Don’t Go Away in the Winter

Ants are a problem for any type of dwelling, but one particular species that may be particularly troublesome for you is the pharaoh ant. If you are tempted to exterminate this invasive species on your own, then you might want to think twice. Pharaoh ants don't respond to the usual home pest control treatments. Here is more about the pharaoh ant, the differences between this species and other common species of house ants, and what attracts them to your home.

What Do Pharaoh Ants Look Like?

Pharaoh ants are tiny, about 1/16 inch long, with slim bodies that are yellowish to light brown in color. They can be easily confused with other common ants, especially the thief ants who are the same color, size, and even have some of the same food preferences.

What Are the Differences Between Pharaoh Ants and Other Ants?

The main difference between pharaoh ants and other ants is their smaller-than-average size and their fairly light color. Most ants are larger and either red or an opaque dark brown or black. One of the primary ways to distinguish pharaoh ants and thief ants is by their nesting preferences. Pharaoh ants like dark, warm, and moist nesting areas while thief ants tend to like wooden cupboards and cracks in the walls.

What Attracts Pharaoh Ants to Homes?

The biggest attractant is food, especially fatty, high protein, sweet foods. A secondary attractant is a nice, isolated, and warm area to nest undisturbed. They enter your home through cracks in screens, poorly insulated doors, and even holes or cracks in the wall. Once established, their colonies can grow quite large with more than one queen and thousands of workers.

What Are Some Ways to Treat Pharaoh Ants?

The number one thing you don't want to do is spray or apply any type of chemical treatment or pesticide to a pharaoh ant colony. If the ants feel threatened, they will divide their colony and move into other parts of your home. You will then find yourself with more ants in more places. Ant baits are generally the best way to kill a pharaoh ant colony, but you have to place them in a strategic location.

Before you treat for pharaoh ants, or any other pests, make sure you have the correct identification. If you treat certain species the wrong way, then you may cause yourself more trouble. Have a pest control company, like Be There Pest Control, take a look at your ant problem to determine what kinds you have and how you can completely clear them from your home.