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Ants
are one of the most common insects found around
us. You get them in homes as well as in office buildings.
They are pests because they travel to all kinds
of places, including garbage areas, and may carry
germs on their bodies. In this manner, they transmit
diseases and cause food poisoning. In addition,
some ants inflict painful bites. ) |
PAVEMENT ANTS
This ant gets its name from commonly
locating its nest in or under cracks in pavement. They're
about 1/16-1/8" (2.5-4 mm) long; queens about 3/8" (8
mm) long. Colonies are moderate to large, averaging 3-4,000
ants and several queens.
WHERE YOU FIND THEM
Inside a building, pavement ants
will occasionally nest in walls, in insulation, and under
floors. The most likely place is in the building foundation
and especially near some heat source. They often follow
pipes which come through slabs for access to upper floors
of buildings.
Outside, these ants typically nest under stones, in cracks
in pavement, and next to buildings. They enter buildings
through cracks in the slab and walls, slab expansion joints,
and the natural openings of buildings. Although not aggressive,
workers can bite and sting.
These ants feed on almost anything including insects,
honeydew, seeds, plant sap, and household foods such as
meats, nuts, cheese, honey, and bread, but show a preference
for meats and grease. They forage in trails, and for distances
of up to 30 feet (9 m).
CONTROL
1. Keep all areas free of food debris.
Pay particular attention to floors and the area around
tables, chairs, kitchen sinks and cookers.
2. Used utensils should not be left overnight, but washed
immediately after use.
3. Tie garbage in refuse bags before disposing.
4. Wipe away spilled sweet drinks and food straightaway.
5. The professional approach would be:
• Locate the nest(s) and treat with
a residual insecticide.
•Try to follow ants back from the food
source.
•Dust in the voids of outside ground-floor
walls, treatment of cracks in the slab with a residual
insecticide, and barrier treatment gives the best control.
•The direct injection with an appropriately
labeled high-pressure aerosol (160 psi) into the entrance/exit
opening in the crack or expansion joint of a concrete
floor is extremely effective.
•Baiting may be necessary.
6. For best results, it is best to seek SWAT Pest Control's
help.
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WHERE YOU FIND THEM
Fire ants are typically ground-nesting
ants. Outside, the ants nest usually in the vicinity of
the kitchen, under stones or other covering objects, or
in the soil at the base of a tree or shrub, or in clumps
of grass. Fire ants are attracted to electrical junction
boxes of traffic signals, air conditioners, etc. When
they mass around the electrical contact points, they cause
the equipment to malfunction. They will also nest in gas
and water meter boxes and then follow the pipes into the
building.
CONTROL
1. Keep all areas free of food debris.
Pay particular attention to floors and the area around
tables, chairs, kitchen sinks and cookers.
2. Used utensils should not be left overnight, but washed
immediately after use.
3. Tie garbage in refuse bags before disposing.
4. Wipe away spilled sweet drinks and food straightaway.
5. The professional approach would be:
Locate the nest(s) and treat with a residual insecticide.
Try to follow ants back from the food source. Dust in
the voids of outside ground-floor walls, treatment of
cracks in the slab with a residual insecticide, and barrier
treatment gives the best control. The direct injection
with an appropriately labeled high-pressure aerosol (160
psi) into the entrance/exit opening in the crack or expansion
joint of a concrete floor is extremely effective. Baiting
may be necessary.
6. For best results, it is best to seek SWAT Pest
Control's help..
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