Ants: The Number 1 Pest in the U.S.
54 in 100 homeowners surveyed by NPMA* in 2011 say that ants is their number one concern.**
54 % of participating pest control professionals from a survey funded by Professional Pest Management Association say that ant infestations are currently on the rise throughout United States. **
Top 3 Invaders
Although there are over 300 species of ants that are named and identified in the United States, only about a dozen or so are found infesting homes or businesses on a regular basis. Here are the three ants most often treated by pest professionals.
- Carpenter (66%) – The most common home invader in the US is the black carpenter ant. These ants are capable of causing structural damage to homes. They don’t eat wood but they excavate wood to create galleries.
- Odorous (62%) – Odorous ants are indeed odorous! These ants smell like rotten coconut when crushed.
- Pavement (59%) – These ants are found in all states of the country
Structures Commonly Invaded by Ants**
- Office Buildings – 88%
- Restaurants – 83%
- Apartments & Condominiums – 82%
- Single Family Homes – 80%
- Nursing Homes – 70%
- Schools – 58%
- College Dorms – 34%
Areas Vulnerable to Ant Infestation**
- Kitchens – 96%
- Bathrooms – 89%
- Inside Walls – 73%
- Bedrooms – 61%
- Living Rooms – 60%
- Basements – 54%
- Air Conditioning and Heating Units – 37%
Are Ants Dangerous?
Ants are just considered as nuisance pests by most people. They don’t pose significant threat to human’s health since they are not vectors of diseases. In spite of this, there are some potential dangers associated with ants.
- Painful Stings – Most ant bites are painful but the pain from the bite of the bullet ant is a whole new other level. It is considered the most painful insect bite on Earth.
- Food Contamination –Ants are not as dirty as other pests such as flies. However, they can still contaminate food. They can carry germs from a dirty area to your clean kitchen.
- Structural Damage – Carpenter ants are more than a nuisance since they can actually destroy property. Although not as destructive as termites, they can still cause significant damage.
Did You Know?
Ants live in a well-organized social network. Some ants have only one queen, but research has shown that the more persistent pest ants actually have dozens, if not hundreds of queens. Due to this fact, ants have remarkable reproductive capacity and are resilient to many efforts to eliminate them.
How to Keep Ants Away
- Trim vegetation around the property
- Clean crumbs and spills as soon as possible
- Clean and empty garbage bins regularly
- Keep attractive food items like honey and jelly in sturdy and sealed containers
- Seal all cracks and crevices that ants may use to gain entry to the property
- Check and repair faulty faucets, leaking pipes and clogged gutters
- Control moisture inside the property
Favorite Food
Ants are generally omnivores, which means they can eat plants and animals. In nature, they eat nectar, fungi, insects and more. Inside the kitchen, they are attracted to the following: Sweets, Starches, Meats and Greasy Foods
Pest Control Services
53 percent of homeowners surveyed think that pest control professionals are more effective in solving pest problems.***
88 percent of homeowners, who are current pest control users believe that pest control professionals are more effective in handling pest problems.***
84 percent of homeowners who are current pest control users claim that their most latest pest problem was solved in just one to two services.***
100% of participating pest professionals treated ant infestations in 2011.
Top Causes of Ant-related Service Calls**
96% – Sightings of Ants****
32% – Flying Ants
10% – Indication of Structural Damage
10% – Ant Bite
*National Pest Management Association
**Data from “Exploring America’s #1 Nuisance Pest” which was conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Dr. Laurel Hansen.
***Data from 2010 Pest Control Attitudes and Usage Survey which was conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA)
****Sightings of ants in areas where they don’t normally belong
Keep these nuisance pests out of your home and contact a professional now!