Tiny Ants in Kitchen
Are there tiny ants crawling all over your kitchen? Count yourself lucky if you’ve not experienced these insects in droves. Every spring in New Jersey, thousands of people head to the hardware store looking for the newest and best pesticides to help them eradicate these little critters.
The warm season can be frustrating when ants won’t go away no matter what you try. If you want to take care of your ant problem this year, you must know about these tiny pests. Most people don’t realize that there are many species of ants that can enter their homes in the spring. Though they may look the same, their appearance and behavior differ.
6 Most Common Household Tiny Ants in New Jersey
One thing common household ants have in common is that they’re small. The average will usually get around 1/8″ long, though some variations exist. Here are a few of the most prevalent ant species, their characteristics, and how to distinguish them.
Pharaoh Ants
If you have Pharaoh ants in your home, you’ll know them by their vibrant hues. They typically come in colors ranging from yellow to a yellowish red. A home is not the first place they choose to nest, but it’s possible.
These ants prefer to hang out in schools, hotels, and even processing plants around the state. Like most ants, these pests seek a warm and humid place to nest. They love to build their colonies around water pipes, heating systems, in the insulation of walls, and inside or close to electronics.
The tricky part with these and most ants is that their nests are hidden, so you must do some detective work to find them, as they prefer obstructed areas. The colony structure of these ants is unique as since their nests are so large, there’s usually more than one queen. The numerous queens will build satellite colonies and fragment the main branch.
How do they organize their family in these colonies and ensure everyone gets food? They use the pheromone trails that allow other ants to pick up on the smell and take them to and from the food location. The Pharaoh ant isn’t picky either, as they will eat great scraps, sweet treats, meat, and even greasy residue on your stove.
Unlike so many other ants, this species can bite. Thankfully, they don’t sting, too. If you don’t threaten them, they won’t attack you. To control and eradicate these pesky critters, you must destroy their pheromone trails and find their nests.
Dealing with Pharaoh ants is a challenging task. Their large colonies and scattered fragments make eradication a challenge. If you spot these yellowish nightmares in your home, it’s crucial to seek professional pest control immediately.
Odorous Ants
The odorous house ant is one of the smaller ones that frequent homes in this area. They’re anywhere from 1/16-1/5” long. Their color variations are anywhere from brown to black. Of all the problematic ants pest control companies treat, these are the most common in this region.
The unique thing about these ants is they live in colonies in the soil near your home. The nest can contain hundreds of thousands of ants, so many workers are looking for food. They make their way into your home and can build a nest under the floorboards and in the voids of your walls.
Their primary source of protein is sugar, so any sweets you have sitting around are fair game. The workers are so plentiful that they want to ensure the others in the nest can also eat when they find a food source. So, they leave a trail of pheromones that allow them to see the goods quickly.
The best way to eliminate them is to seal any cracks or other points of entry and remove any food, including fruit, sitting on counters.
Thief Ants
The name “thief ant” certainly describes the actions of this tiny insect. Though only 1/16” long, they can carry up to 50 times their body weight. You’ve probably guessed they got their name because they habitually steal from others.
The thief ant will go into other nests and colonies and take food to return to their brood. In fact, they’re so good at their game that they will often make their nests close to the location of others for a quick shakedown. Since they’re so small, they can sneak into other colonies without being noticed.
These resourceful creatures not only steal food from other nests, but they also abduct their pupae and larvae. Their life of crime is not limited by location, as they adapt to any environment, whether indoors or outdoors, as long as it provides the necessary warmth and humidity for survival.
Shockingly, their nests, though close to others, contain hundreds to thousands of ants. Having them in your home won’t go unnoticed, as they tend to multiply overnight. They prefer a sweet treat, nuts, seeds, meat, and other insects.
The best way to eliminate these ants is to eliminate any food source that might be drawing them and use baits and insecticides.
Argentine Ants
If you have Argentine ants in your home, you might need help distinguishing them from others. They have the traditional light-to-dark brown color scheme. While still small, these ants can reach up to 1/8” in length. When you have an ant problem, you could probably bet they’re this variety, as it’s the most commonly found ant species infesting homes in this state.
You see these ants in the warmer seasons because they love moist, hot air. They want to be as close to their food source as possible, so they build their nests under debris or in dirt mounds. The key is that they must have moisture to thrive, so their colonies are often located near a water source.
Once they get inside, there’s no dirt for them to burrow. So, they like to find hidden spaces where they will be undetected. They love the humidity of attics, and they will also camp in the voids of walls. It’s not uncommon for the Argentine ant to have a nest outside and one inside, and they will create an interconnected pathway to go back and forth.
When you spot these ants in your home, it’s a clear sign that they’ve identified your place as a food source. They are known to establish two areas with significantly large colonies. The question then arises: what are they eating when they’re inside your home?
Argentine ants love dairy products. Isn’t it ironic that leaving a yogurt cup in your trash can is enough to draw hundreds of these ants? They will eat crumbs on counters and tables, grease left on the stove, and even eggs. However, they love other insects.
Dealing with Argentine ants can be challenging, especially in the spring when they reproduce rapidly and have large colonies. However, there are effective methods to control them. These ants follow a pheromone trail, making tracing their path from their water supply to food more accessible. Locate their nest, spray, and leave bait out to eradicate them. This proactive approach can help you regain control over your home.
Pavement Ants
One species of ant you might find in your kitchen or other places in your home is the pavement ant. They’re all shade variations from brown to black. They reach a maximum of 1/8” in length, but most can be as small as 1/32.”
Pavement ants often make their way into homes around this area. They get the term “pavement” because they usually build their nests under concrete or pavement. It’s not uncommon to find them around foundations or sidewalks.
They’re not against building in the soil or under larger stones that they find near your home. Once they make their way into your home, building a nest isn’t as easy, so they will look for voids in your walls and go underneath the floors.
One colony is quite significant in number. Thankfully, this variety of ant won’t bite or sting you. This species prefers sweets, aphids, seeds, and other smaller insects for nourishment. The trick to getting rid of them is to find the nest and cut off their food supply.
Acrobat Ants
Another widespread ant found in New Jersey homes is the Acrobat. It’s a smaller species, at a maximum of 1/8” long, but its name comes from its unique characteristics. Its abdomen is heart-shaped, and it tends to be very limber and likes to raise its head far above its center, which is how it got its name.
While Acrobat ants can be found outdoors in various places like soil, woodpiles, garden mulch, and under large rocks, they are open to making their homes in your walls or under your floors. The colony’s size may vary, so they can have one or more queens.
Acrobat ants have a diverse diet, similar to other ant species. They consume nuts, insects, meat, sweet treats, fruits, and grease. When these worker ants are hunting for food, you might spot them crawling around your home. They are skilled at walking up and down walls and might even crawl across you searching for a meal.
These ants are attracted to homes with moisture issues, so if you have any cracks or openings, it’s best to seal them properly. Using typical sprays and baits will often help eradicate these critters.
Solutions to a Tiny Ant Infestation
Having ants in your home can be nerve-wracking, especially when crawling across you, your food, and other surfaces in the house. The best way to handle this situation is to inventory your space. Even throwing away things like yogurt or pudding cups with residue can cause them to flock to the trash can.
The problem is that when one finds food, they use pheromone trails to alert the others. Soon, one ant turns into hundreds, which is why you see swarms on something as small as a lollipop or other small item. But fear not; you can turn the tide with the proper steps.
Here are some effective measures you can take to eradicate an ant problem:
Use a covered trash can and take the trash out often. In peak seasons, be sure to rinse out anything, such as a soda can or yogurt container, that might have a residue.
Clean up all dishes and counter surfaces immediately after a meal. Even a blob of jelly your child dropped on the floor can be a significant attraction.
Wipe down all surfaces where you’ve seen ants. Using a cleanser and giving the area a good scrub destroys the pheromone trail that alerts others to come for food.
Find the nest and destroy it with insecticides. Some species are more accessible to locate than others, but you must remember that ants typically build their colonies in the same general locations.
Investing in good bait is the way to go. The ants don’t die immediately but will take the food back to their nests to kill the others. This works great in situations where you can’t find the nest.
Using insecticides is very beneficial, but you must ensure your product is safe for pets and children if you have them in your home. Some environmentally safe sprays are just as effective and protect those you love and Mother Nature.
Remember, you’re not alone in this battle against tiny ants.
If you’ve done all the steps above and still haven’t had any luck, you’ve likely got a severe infestation. Since ants are tenacious and build such large colonies, it’s understandable. Fret not, a professional pest control is just a call away.
These trained technicians are there to save the day by providing the relief you need. The spring and summer months are beautiful in New Jersey, but everyone must learn how to learn to deal with insects and bugs that come with the gorgeous weather. Thankfully, your local pest control company can help.