How to Identify & Control Odorous, Carpenter & Little Black Ants in Fairfax, VA

Ants are a common pest during the warmer summer months, and people want to know what they are dealing with. Ants are not a real threat to people because they are so small the bite doesn’t pack enough potency to have a big impact. The bite can leave with an irritated and itchy spot on someone that is unlucky enough to get in their path. There are many types of ants around the area that cause trouble for people. Although most ants like their life outdoors they are not going to pass up a free meal from a home that has a pile of crumbs to choose from. If you want to know what ants might be disturbing your home we have compiled a list to help.

CSI Home & Commercial Services Lists the Most Common Ants Found in Virginia

Carpenter Ants: This is a special ant that is different than all the other species due to the extensive damage it causes. The ant actually causes some serious damage to homes because of the area they like to tunnel and nest in. Just like the name suggests, the carpenter ant chooses to chew through the wood beams in your home to find a place to nest. This is where they cause damage. They are similar to a termite in the damage they cause but the big difference is they don’t ingest and eat the wood they just chew through it so they are still looking for actual food. These are two of the reasons carpenter ants are found in homes; the wood and crumbs that are readily available.
Odorous Ants: This is an interesting ant in that they are pretty small; only coming in about 1/8th of an inch fully grown. Odorous ants are normally a brown coloring and live in a large colony. Another way to identify this type of ant is when they are smashed they give off an odor that is similar to rotted coconut. This can be a nasty smell to have around your home which is why it is better to have a professional company deal with them if they get into your home. The reason they are in homes is often due to the size of the colonies. It is hard to keep enough food when the colony can reach up to 100,000 members. Odorous ants are constantly in search of food and can find it near trash cans and in houses.
Little Black Ant: The name of this type of ant really says it all. The ant is little and black in color reaching about 1/16th of an inch in total length. They have a small two node segmented body and a very small stinger. The colonies tend to stay fairly small and that makes them easy to leave and travel to a new location when they find food or they are disturbed in any way. Little black ants are known to get in kitchens and bathrooms in search of food and water as well as a place to stay.

Professional Ant Control

No matter what kind of ants you find in your home, call CSI Home & Commercial Services to have them treated today.