You’re probably familiar with carpenter ants. These giant black ants enjoy chewing through wooden structures in and around your home. They are large and have a talent for causing significant destruction. Due to their reputation, you may have explored carpenter ant removal in Acton. Carpenter ants may be famous, but they aren’t the only ants on the block. Pharaoh ants are a prominent species that could easily take up lodging in your home. Keep reading to learn more about the difference between carpenter ants and pharaoh ants.
What Do Pharaoh Ants Look Like?
Pharaoh ants are minuscule as far as bugs are concerned. These tiny, translucent creatures measure only 2mm in length. They are primarily golden brown or yellow and have dark red or black abdomens. Queen ants usually are all dark red instead of yellow like their subjects. Male ants boast wings until mating, after which they’ll lose them. Pharaoh ants do have stingers, but they aren’t used to attack. The stingers release pheromones that alert other ants of danger or create maps to food. Pharaoh ants live all over the world, though their origins are unknown. The name “pharaoh” stems from the belief that these ants may have been one of the insect plagues of ancient Egypt.How Do Pharaoh Ants Behave?
They only live for up to a year, but that’s plenty of time to wreak havoc. Pharaoh ants reproduce at an alarming rate. Eggs become full-grown adults in just 38 days. Each colony may have several queen ants. These queens will leave the colony with a few worker ants to form new colonies. This process is known as “budding.” Through budding, pharaoh ants can quickly create multiple new colonies. Colonies range in size, but larger ones can have several hundred thousand ants. Have a pro like Truly Nolen Canada treat your property before ants multiply out of control. Pharaoh ants prefer warmth but adapt to cold weather by heading indoors for winter. Not just any shelter will do. Unheated sheds or garages aren’t suitable winter abodes. These ants need a building with central heating to keep them warm, like your house. Crumbs on your dining room floor are a snowbird buffet for pharaoh ants. Seal cracks and crevices around your home to prevent these pests from coming inside. Prevention is the easiest way to deal with an infestation.How Do Pharaoh Ants Differ From Carpenter Ants?
Pharaoh ants aren’t physically destructive like carpenter ants, but don’t let that fool you. Their small size and ability to multiply allow for lightning-fast infestation. Pharaoh ants are known to spread dysentery and salmonella by contaminating food. If pharaoh ants have invaded your kitchen, remove any food they may have touched. Spray the area with disinfectant, and clean often. Carpenter ants will nest in damp woodpiles or other decayed wood. Pharaoh ants are known to hide within walls, floorboards or furniture. Their nests are plentiful and notoriously tricky to find. Like carpenter ants, you must bait pharaoh ants with poison to eliminate them. With carpenter ants, baits are placed near but not on their path. When dealing with pharaoh ants, baits should be in as many areas as possible. Their ability to quickly create new colonies makes it nearly impossible to eliminate them with just one bait location. Always work with a professional to rid your home of disease-carrying pests. Identifying pharaoh ants is very simple with their small stature and yellow colouring. They are pretty different from their distant relatives, the carpenter ant. Nonetheless, they are equally as invasive. If you notice pharaoh ants in your home, contact us today. Truly Nolen Canada has experience recognizing and treating this species, among others. We are experts in year-round pest control. Call us today and leave these ants in ancient history where they belong.Related Posts
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