All ants are social creatures. The ant colony generally consists of workers, larvae, pupae and eggs. In the colony there is a division of labor in which the queen lays eggs while the workers are concerned with building and maintaining the nest, as well as providing food and protection from caterpillars. The ant possesses powerful serrated jaws which are used as tools for digging, gathering food, carrying eggs and larvae as well as defending the nest against predators. Females and young males are winged once or twice a year. At this time they mate and the males die immediately after mating while the female swings her wings and tries to establish a new nest.
Ants have become more harmful in residential homes in recent years and are generally more difficult to eliminate than cockroaches. The stubbornness of the ant has made them successful since there is no obstacle that stands in the way of preventing them from reaching their food. They will penetrate almost anything in order to find sources of food, and the only way to eradicate them is by eliminating the queen.
Effective control treatments require skill and expertise and this is established by using our knowledge of ant behavior and our experience in dealing with them.
If you encounter a red ant in your home or garden, care must be taken when coming into contact with them as they are fire ants. This particular species is considered a harmful invader and is included in the list of 100 most problematic invasive species. Pest control services or local authorities should be contacted immediately upon discovery.
ANTS CONTROL STRATEGIES
PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS ARE COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANT NESTS.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED:
- Actions that can prevent the penetration of ants into the interior of your homes are: to close any holes that appear between the panels and around the kitchen area; to seal off water pipes and electrical connections.
- Do not leave food and leftovers out without first covering them. Ants harbor an extraordinary ability to find these food sources.
- It is important to identify the type of ant you are dealing with. Some species of ants can be controlled by using bait, while other species must be tracked back to the colony and treated directly.
- Ant pest control operations are used as complementary to preventative care. Advanced pesticide spraying should be carried out throughout the building, as well as distributing baits made of grains or in the form of a gel.