In general, all ant species have similar habits and life cycles. The species that are commonly found in U.S. homes all essentially live in colonies that are produced by a single reproductive queen, have different hierarchical roles that determine their daily tasks, and love most foods. However, there are key differences between the species that are essential to keep in mind while treating them, since it can help determine the exact products needed to eliminate an infestation. Chesterfield has quite a few kinds of ants, but there are two species that we see most often.

Odorous house ants are the most common culprit of home ant invasions, hence their name. They are one of the few ant species that can complete all stages of their life cycle indoors, so they will often invade the walls and floorboards to build a nest within for their growing colonies. These ants are dark-colored and can be up to 3.25 millimeters long. Although they will feed on most foods they can find, odorous house ants prefer anything that is sweet, greasy, dairy-heavy, or protein-filled. As for the “odorous” title, that comes from the rotten smell they emit when squished or disturbed, so it will be fairly obvious if this is the species in your home.

Carpenter ants are a bit different from the typical ant species that you may have seen in your yard or house. These ants are black or red, 1/2 of an inch long, and live inside wood. The workers use their sharp mandibles to carve an intricate tunnel system into natural wood, as the chambers within the tunnels serve as protection for vulnerable members of the colony, such as the queen and eggs in their separate chambers. Although carpenter ants function much like termites in how they construct their nests, they are similar to other ants in their diet. Carpenter ants eat sweets and protein to keep up their energy for carving the aforementioned tunnels.

Whether you are battling an army of odorous house ants or combatting some carpenter ants, Pointe Pest Control is prepared to solve any Chesterfield ant issue that you have. We will never take the easy way out by simply spraying some general pesticides on the pests. Our treatment process is thorough and personalized to eliminate the ant species at hand, as we provide long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes. For more information on our environmentally-friendly, effective ant control services, give us a call today!