Nuissance Ants
Overview
There are a few different types of nuisance ants, which are among one of the most difficult insects to control. Nuisance ant colonies are very large and often in excess of 100-200 thousand individuals. Nuisance ants are a year round problem.
Additionally, nuisance ant colonies are often inaccessible, located under slab construction. Nuisance ants are also very persistent and will continue to enter a structure to forage for food and other resources. If so much as a single crumb or drop of juice is located, ants will recruit more ants to forage on these resources.
Most ants are living along the exterior or below the structure in the soil and enter the home through tiny cracks and fissures in the foundation of the building. Usually they enter the home looking for food, so it is important to make sure no crumbs or sweets have dropped or spilled on the floor or if they have, that they are cleaned up. Remember, although you can keep a very clean house, some crumbs may exist and ants find them.
Biology
Nuisance ants are large 1/4" to 1/8" inch in length and usually black, brown or brownish-red. Nuisance ants are social insects and live in colonies. Individual ants within the colony work together in a cooperative fashion, and each member of the colony has a specific job function that contributes to the overall success of the ant society. Keep in mind that within each colony there are a few reproductive ants that have wings.
