Any type of ant that gets inside your home is automatically a nuisance. They typically invade for the warm shelter and stay for the abundance of food sitting in the kitchen. Once the first ant gets inside, it will lead the rest of its army to the same food by leaving a trail of pheromones – invisible scent chemicals – straight to the source. That being said, there are certain species that tend to cause issues in Edwardsville homes more often than others.

Carpenter ants are a bit different than most common ants, purely because of their habitat. These ants function much like termites in that they use their sharp mandibles (mouth parts) to carve deep tunnels into wood, and even include chambers to protect their queen and young. Carpenter ants are black or red and can be up to half of an inch long. They don’t actually eat the wood they chew through, so they seek out food that is sugary or protein-packed just like any other ant. This leads to carpenter ants being a more concerning threat to our homes since they not only want to invade our kitchens, they can also cause extensive structural damage to the house itself.

Odorous house ants prefer to keep their colonies actually inside our homes, contrary to other ant species. These insects can hide their group under floorboards or inside walls, and will leave their cozy habitats to gather some food that is conveniently located in the nearby kitchen. Odorous house ants are dark and can be up to 3.25 millimeters long, but the most unique feature is the uniquely-shaped thorax that they each have. They typically invade once the weather cools down in the fall, but odorous house ants are a common problem all year long. The “odorous” title is due to the strong odors they release when they are squished. It has been compared to bleu cheese or rotten coconut, so if you smell either of these somewhere in your home, it could be an infestation. 

The most efficient way to solve any kind of ant problem isn’t using a DIY method or buying a handful of traps from the store. It’s receiving professional ant control services from the local experts at Pointe Pest Control. Our technicians are all fully trained in the safest and best ways to eliminate ants, and we are committed to keeping you ant-free all year long. Contact us today to learn more about our non-toxic treatments and why Pointe is the most reliable choice for Edwardsville ant control services!