Here are the facts about ants that matter most when they’re in your kitchen: the ants you see are a small part of a colony nesting somewhere else, often inside a wall, under a slab or outdoors. Spraying them doesn’t reach the nest, and with some species it makes things worse. Of the 12,000 or so ant species in the world, only about 50 become household pests, according to Cornell IPM.
Knowing which ant you have and where it nests decides what works. Here are 10 facts, each with what it means for you.
1. Only a few kinds of ants move indoors
The University of Kentucky lists pavement ants, carpenter ants, acrobat ants and pharaoh ants among the common house invaders, and odorous house ants are another regular in the Northeast. Each one nests in different places, so the first step is knowing which one you have.
2. Pavement ants come up through cracks in the floor
Pavement ants are small, about 1/8 inch, and dark brown to black. Most colonies live under sidewalks, building slabs and large rocks, and the ants come inside through cracks in foundation walls and floors, according to Penn State Extension. In ground-floor apartments and basements, check the cracks where the floor meets the wall.
3. Odorous house ants smell like rotten coconut
Crush one and you’ll notice a rotten coconut smell, the University of Kentucky says. These ants are tiny, brown to black, and like sweets. Penn State notes that they nest indoors near moisture and warmth, in wall voids, and that a colony can have many queens.
4. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood
Carpenter ants are big, 1/4 to 1/2 inch, and brown to black. They dig nests in wood but don’t eat it, so they push out piles of sawdust. They seldom tunnel into dry, sound wood and go for moist, rotting wood instead, according to Penn State. Carpenter ants inside usually point to a leak or damp wood. If you’re not sure whether you’re seeing ants or termites, see our guide to termites vs ants.
5. Pharaoh ants get worse when you spray them
Pharaoh ants are tiny, about 1/16 inch, and yellow to orange. They nest in wall and cabinet voids and behind baseboards. Their colonies have many queens, and the University of California notes that insecticide sprays on trailing workers can trigger budding: part of the colony moves off and starts a new nest. One nest becomes several.
6. A colony can have more than one queen
Every colony has one or more queens whose job is to lay eggs, according to the University of Kentucky. Cornell IPM notes that most pest ants build colonies of tens of thousands of workers, and some species have hundreds of egg-laying queens. Killing the workers you see doesn’t stop the egg laying.
7. Ants follow invisible scent trails
Ants lay down odor trails that the workers follow between food and the nest, the University of Kentucky explains. That’s why they march in a line, and why more show up once a scout finds food.
8. Ants change what they eat with the seasons
Ants may prefer sweet foods in the spring and protein-rich foods in the fall, according to Cornell IPM. That’s one reason a bait that worked in spring can be ignored in fall.
9. Baits beat sprays
Ant baits mix a food the ants want with a slow-acting insecticide. Workers carry it back and feed it to the queens and the rest of the colony, according to the University of Kentucky. The most common mistake, Kentucky says, is spraying only the ants you see, which are a small part of the colony. Don’t spray insecticides or cleaners near the bait, or the ants will avoid it.
Here’s the trade-off: baits are slower than a spray, and you’ll still see ants for a while as workers carry the bait back. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
10. Winged ants indoors mean a nest inside
When winged ants come out indoors, a nest is present, the University of Kentucky says. Winged ants are the colony’s future kings and queens, and they shed their wings after mating. Ants have a pinched waist and bent antennae. Termites don’t, so check before you decide.
Here’s a simple example
Say you find a line of tiny yellow ants running from a crack in the kitchen tile to the cat’s food bowl in a Manhattan apartment. You spray the line, and the next week there are ants in the bathroom too. If they’re pharaoh ants, the spray may have split the colony into new nests, just as the University of California describes. A slow-acting bait placed along the trail, with no spray near it, gives the workers time to carry it back to the queens.
What to do about ants
- Take away food and water. Wipe up crumbs and spills, rinse dishes, and close up the trash and pet food. Cornell IPM lists all of these as things that draw ants.
- Seal the way in. Seal openings around the foundation and where pipes and wires come in. Cornell notes that ants often forage inside while the nest is outdoors.
- Use baits, not sprays, and keep sprays and cleaners away from them.
- Get help for carpenter ants indoors. The University of Kentucky recommends professional help when carpenter ants are nesting inside.
NYC Extermination starts with a free on-site inspection to find which ant you have and where it’s coming from, then treats at the source, following Integrated Pest Management. Before any treatment we ask about children, pets, health and allergy concerns. See our residential pest control and, for kitchens and break rooms at work, our commercial pest control, or call (347) 988-2315.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I suddenly have ants in my apartment?
Usually because a scout found food or water: crumbs, a sticky spill, pet food or a leak. Once one ant finds it, the others follow its scent trail. Winged ants indoors are a different story, because they mean a nest inside the building.
How do I find the ant nest?
Follow the trail back from the food as far as you can. It may lead to a crack in the floor, a gap behind a baseboard or a wall void, or outdoors, since ants often forage inside while nesting outside. Some nests can’t be reached, which is where baits help.
Should I call an exterminator for ants?
Call if ants keep coming back after you’ve cleaned up and used baits, if you see winged ants indoors, or if you find carpenter ants or sawdust inside. The University of Kentucky recommends professional help for carpenter ants nesting indoors.
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