Ants are a social insect that lives in colonies. There are three kinds of ants in a colony: The queen, the female workers, and males. The queen and the males have wings, while the workers don’t have wings. The queen is the only ant that can lay eggs. The male ant’s job is to mate with future queen ants and they do not live very long afterwards. Once the queen grows to adulthood, she spends the rest of her life laying eggs! Depending on the species, a colony may have one queen or many queens.

Ants may enter your home search for food or water. They enter through the smallest opening mostly they like sweet based food or protein foods, once they find the food source, ants will leave a pheromone trail for other ants to follow. Most common ants in BC are Carpenter Anta, Pharaoh Ants, Pavement Ants and Odorous Ants. For the best control, you have to understand their behaviour. If you are in doubt which type of ants you have in your home, please call TOP LINE PEST CONTROL, and we will gladly help you.

CARPENTAL ANTS.

Carpenter Ants are the largest ants found in British Columbia. Their colour varies from black, brown and light brown depending on the species. Their colonies can live from 3 to 7 years. Carpenter ants are most active in the evening hours searching for food both inside and outside in the house.

• Preventive measure for carpenter ants.
• Trim all trees and bushes so branches do not touch the house.
• Control or correct moisture problems such as leaky roofs and plumbing.
• Paint or seal expose wood before it becomes wet.
• Replace water damage, Rotted and previously Ant infested wood.
• Store firewood above the ground and remove dead stumps from the property.

PHARAOH ANTS.

Pharaoh ants are very small and yellow in colour. They require heat to survive and reproduce. This species is polygynous, meaning each colony contains many queens, leading to unique caste interactions. This also allows the colony to fragment into bud colonies quickly. Colonies do not display aggression toward each other. Pharaoh ants are a tropical species, but they thrive in buildings almost anywhere. Pharaoh ants have become a serious pest in almost every type of building. They can feed on a wide variety of food including grease, sugary food and dead insects. They can also gnaw holes in silk, rayon and rubber goods. Their nest is very small and usually found in wall voids, under floors or different types of furniture. Ants baits is the successful method to control pharaoh ants.

PAVEMENT ANTS.

Pavement ants are dark brown in colour. Their nest is in soil, beneath slabs, patios, side walls and driveways. They always pile soils either on top of or next to pavements. In summer the ants dig out the sand between the pavements to vent their nests. They eat almost anything, including other insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meat, nuts, ice cream and cheese. They are also the predator of codling moth larvae.

• Preventer measure for Ants control.
• Ensuring there is no available food.
• Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances.
• All garbage bins must tightly sealed.
• Close all cracks and crevasse in walls and door frames.