Various Types Of Ants
An ant is one of the tiniest organisms we have ever encountered. However, if we do not pay attention to ant activities, we may face major infestation problems at home. You never know where these ants may enter your home; they only need the tiniest holes to gain entry, and once inside, they can grow and eat all of your food.
Have you ever wondered how ants communicate with one another? This is because when they travel, they emit a specific chemical that allows their companions to readily trace their track. The colony's population can range from 3,000 to 5,000 people, and it can live for many years.
Although they can nest anyplace in your house, don't be shocked if they relocate frequently. At the first sign of danger, they might uproot colonies and relocate. Honeydews and insects make up the majority of their diet. However, once inside your home, they may begin consuming your sweets and meats. Ants are found in around 12000 different species all over the planet.
With that being said, here is a list of commonly found species of ants:
- Ant Acrobat
- Allegheny Ant Mound
- Argentina Ant
- Big-headed Ant
- Carpenter Ant
- Citronella Ants
- Fire Ants
- Pharaoh Ant
These ants aren't particularly bothersome, but they do cause damage to wood, which can be annoying. Because they thrive in damp environments, you should inspect and clean all gutters, drains, and leaks on a regular basis. Keep your food in ziplock bags and airtight containers so they can't eat it.
When threatened, acrobat ants bite, and workers in some species exude an unpleasant smell when disturbed. Although these ants rarely cause major damage to the wood of a structure, they can pose a risk to properties by removing the insulation from electrical or telephone cables, which can result in short circuits.
These ants, unlike other ants, build tunnels, which results in mounds when the excavated soil is heaped up, giving them their name. These ants can be found in both rural and urban settings. These ants can sometimes harm trees and plants by spraying formic acid and eating gaps in the bark, resulting in the tree's death.
The queen, together with a force of workers, leaves the colony in search of new nesting locations, indicating that these ants are wanderers. They, too, emit a formic acid stench when agitated.
Linepithema humile is the Latin name for these ants. They can range in size from 2.2 to 2.8mm, making them smaller than acrobat ants. This ant colony normally contains more than one queen, each of whom is capable of depositing up to 60 eggs every day, and the colony itself is enormous.
Male Argentine ants normally die after mating, and their offspring are born from unfertilized eggs. If a network of interconnected colonies emerges, an infestation will result. These ants are usually persistent, causing problems for homes because the infestation can last for years.
Big-headed ants are soil-nesting ants that prefer to build their nests under stones, logs, and landscape timbers. These ants can also be found in the soil of potted plants, and many indoor outbreaks can be traced back to planters.
Big-headed ants can also be seen nesting beneath slab foundations and infiltrating the slab through fissures. These ants will sometimes build a nest inside rotten timber or excavate old termite-damaged wood.
Carpenter ants acquire their name from the way they build their nests, excavating the wood and creating smooth tunnels within it. Carpenter ants do not eat wood; instead, they dig and chew it to build nests. When mature, a colony of western black carpenter ants has roughly 10-20,000 workers, with big colonies including more than 50,000 individuals.
The workers are also yellow (some say lemon colour) and 4mm long, although the queens are normally twice their size (8mm). This ant species prefer to build its nests on wood that has been weakened by termites or fungi.
When threatened or stepped on, these small yellow ants exude a lemon-like aroma, hence the name citronella ant. Citronella ants, unlike carpenter ants, which are damaging to homes and other structures, do not pose a threat to property.
Their mound is frequently confused for Allegheny ants. They are nasty creatures that continuously sting intruders. Their diet consists of dead meat (which may or may not have been killed by them), vegetation, and small insects.
Until their third instar, the larvae are generally on a liquid diet. For survival, they favour warmer conditions. A fire ant's sting includes venom and is the most excruciating for humans, occasionally lethal. Fire ant colonies are typically found deep underground, making it difficult to regulate their expansion.
When provoked, fire ants become extremely aggressive and may sting multiple times. Itching may occur after being stung, followed by the appearance of a white, fluid-filled pustule.
They are more likely to be found in areas with plenty of food, and their lifespan is shorter. Because of their strong survival instincts, these ants have been known to cause infestations indoors.
Pharaoh ant colonies are typically huge, with tens of thousands of workers. If the colony is disturbed, members will migrate to different areas and start multiple new colonies through a process known as budding.
You must be cautious because they are known to spread a variety of diseases and distribute harmful substances, perhaps causing extra issues. Dealing with them professionally is always the best option.