Ants are a common nuisance pest throughout Texas and have become a major issue for Dallas–Fort Worth residents.
They can infiltrate a structure quickly and can be difficult to control due to their nesting habits. If these pesky ants have already invaded your home, you may want to seek professional ant treatment.
Although many ant species have similar characteristics, control necessitates a personalized approach based on the type of ant discovered and the location they have chosen to call home.
With these factors in mind, the last thing you want is an ant infestation in your home. However, if an invasion does occur, the team at Gecko Green is here to help!
Common Ants in North Texas
There are many different species of ants found in North Texas, but often, they don’t share the same food sources or nesting habits.
Acrobat Ants (Crematogaster spp.)
Acrobat ants are small ants (2-4 mm) that have become pests due to their tendency to nest in damp, decaying wood.
Skylights, fascia and soffit boards, and woodwork around windows and door frames are all common sources of problems.
Acrobat ants have also been observed nesting in wall voids and in certain types of foam insulation.
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
Carpenter ants are large ants (8-25 mm) that build nests inside wood (preferably dead and damp). They use their jaws to hollow out “galleries” to be able to move freely between different areas of the nest.
However, they do not eat wood as termites do but instead leave trails of what looks like sawdust. These ants can be deleterious to any wooden structures you may have.
Crazy Ants (Paratrechina longicornis)
Crazy ants are small ants (2.3-3 mm) that don’t excavate their own tunnels like other ants.
Because of this, these ants will move in anywhere that has protected holes and cavities, like inside the walls or in basements and crawlspaces.
So, if you see these ants, act quickly because crazy ants are strangely attracted to electrical equipment and can cause wiring damage.
Odorous Ants (Tapinoma sessile)
Odorous ants are small ants (2.4–3.3 mm) and are often found close to human activity. But watch out! Stepping on the black, shiny, odorous house ant can really stink up the place!
They have the odor of rotten coconuts. Luckily, they don’t sting or bite, but they can still be a nuisance.
Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis)
Pharaoh ants are tiny ants (1.5–2 mm) with a yellowish-brown, almost translucent appearance.
These hungry scavengers tend to frequent places with an abundance of food, such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and hospitals.
Unfortunately, they sometimes carry salmonella and other diseases. Professional assistance is usually required to get rid of them.
Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta)
Red imported fire ants are medium-sized (2-6 mm) red and black ants that build soft soil mounds.
Mounds are rarely more than 18 inches in diameter. These ants deliver a painful sting that produces a red pustule that itches and burns.
These stings are usually not serious except for the rare instance of a serious allergy. Should you come across these ants, call a professional immediately!
If you do come face to face with fire ants, here’s a few tips on what to do if fire ants sting you.
Rover Ants (Brachymyrmex depilis & obscurior)
Rover ants are tiny ants (1.5-2 mm) and can easily make their way into a structure because of their size.
They are typically found in soil or rotting wood but will also nest in potted plants, wall voids, and other harborages.
These ants do not bite or sting, so they do not cause as much of a commotion as some other ants. However, if they make it indoors, it can be hard to eliminate them.
Ant Prevention
Unfortunately, ants can easily find their way into your home. They can enter your home through cracks in the walls, gaps in the foundation, spaces beneath your flooring, and other openings.
Ants may enter your home through windows and doors in search of food and water.
Knowing where your ant problem is coming from is essential for eradicating an ant infestation and preventing future infestations.
Limit Access
Ants can get in through the smallest of openings, so it is important that you seal any potential entry points as soon as you find them.
Quarterly, walk around your perimeter to look for any cracks or crevices. Seal them immediately.
Eliminate Food Sources
Even the smallest crumbs can feed many ants; if food is found, they may emit signals to other ants, causing more to show up.
So, make sure to clean up any spills or messes as soon as they happen, as this will help keep ants at bay.
Follow the Trail
If you see ants in your home, don’t immediately clean them up, but instead follow the trail.
Following a trail forward will lead you to what is attracting them so you can clean that up.
Following the trail backward will allow you to find where they are getting in. If you do this and find a crack, crevice, or hole that you did not notice before, seal it immediately.
Spraying
If you have already seen ants indoors, spray anywhere you have noticed them with a 1:3 ratio of vinegar to the water.
If you have not yet seen them indoors but want to prevent them anyways, combine a mixture of both peppermint and lavender oils to spray at entry points such as doors and windows.
Some Tips to Follow
- Clean up food spills immediately.
- Regularly clean out your trash cans.
- Fix leaky pipes as soon as they occur.
- Seal cracks and crevices around the house by caulking.
- Store fruit in airtight containers.
- If you have lots of mulch around your house, consider switching to rock or stone.
Hire a Professional Pest Control team
If you have already tried the above tips, or you just feel more comfortable with a professional doing the job, give Gecko Green a call and we would be happy to rid your space of pesky pests!
