Ants are common household pests and are not known to carry diseases. Ants are known as nuisance pests because they forage for food inside a home and form nests in unwanted areas like playgrounds and picnic areas. Certain types of ants, Carpenter ants and Pharaoh ants, occasionally nest indoors and Carpenter ants have the ability to nest in wood and damage it.
Ants are social insects and live in a colony complete with a caste system of queen ant, workers, males and soldiers. It is possible for ant colonies to have as many as 500,000 members with a base colony and several satellites.
Common household ants include Argentine ants, Carpenter ants, Odorous House ants, Pavement ants, Thief ants and Pharaoh ants. They range in size and color from the Thief ant, about 1/32 inch and yellowish to brown, to the Carpenter ant whose queen can be as long as ¾ inch and black, red or dark brown.
Termites or Carpenter Ants?
Winged reproductive Carpenter Ants and Termites are easily confused. From a cursory perspective both appear similar because of their size, coloration and the appearance of wings. If you look closely you will notice the differences. The winged Carpenter Ant can be distinguished by their large size and shape of their antennae, waist and wings.
| Features |
Carpenter Ants |
Termites |
| Size |
Larger |
Smaller |
| Antennae |
Elbowed |
Straight |
| Waist |
Slender |
Broad |
| Wings |
2nd pair of wings (smaller) |
Equal in size |
| Residue |
Similar to coarse sawdust |
Contains mud like material |
|
Treatment
Use Pro ExterminatorTM Crawling & Flying Insect Killer to eliminate bothersome foraging ants (the ants you see). Pro Exterminator Crawling & Flying Insect Killer is specially formulated to "Kill On Contact" problem Ants with the fast acting power of Pyrethrins, a botanical extract made from Chrysanthemum flowers.
Use Pro ExterminatorTM Ant Kill System to eliminate nests and the queen. Pro Exterminator Ant Kill Systems' Dual Bait Formula is a specifically formulated liquid ant bait to eliminate hard to control ants like Carpenter Ants, Pharaoh Ants and Argentine Ants - Faster Acceptance, Faster Dispersal and Faster Eradication. Ants take the liquid food back to the nest and destroy the entire colony...including the queen!
Do
Apply Pro ExterminatorTM Crawling & Flying Insect Killer around doors and windows as well as other places where ants enter premises and where they crawl and hide. Spray under sink, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer & dryer. Spray into infested wood through existing openings. Spray around cabinets and baseboards.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing.
In the home, all food processing surfaces and utensils should be covered during treatment or thoroughly washed before use. Exposed food should be covered or removed.
Keep out of reach of children
Read "Directions for Use" and "Precautionary Statements" on the container before using!
Place Pro ExterminatorTM Ant Kill System ant bait stations in the area where ants can be seen. Place behind and under the following: stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, sinks, counters, shelving, tubs, water pipes, around drains, sewers, electrical boxes, window frames, baseboards and shelves. Replace as needed.
Keep out of reach of children
Common sites of Ants
Ants prefer to nest in moist wood. Nests are commonly found in:
- Wood dampened by water leaks (near sinks, bathtubs, poorly sealed windows etc.)
- Wall voids behind a dishwasher or hollow porch column
- Firewood piled outdoors
- Under and around wooden porches and decks
Preventing Ants
- Fix roof leaks and other moisture problems
- Eliminate wood to ground contact
- Clip back tree limbs and any other vegetation touching siding or roof of the house
- Seal cracks and openings in the foundation, seal areas where utility pipes and wires enter from the outside
- Stack firewood away from the foundation of the house and elevate it off the ground
