The sun is shining, and it’s the perfect day for a New Jersey picnic. But before settling in at the park, it’s good to remember that ant bites can quickly turn a fun day into an itchy, uncomfortable experience. If you find yourself asking the questions “What does an ant bite look like?” or “What type of ants bite and how did we cross paths?” keep reading to find the answers.

Different ants—like fire ants—can deliver painful, itchy bites that can ruin an outing. Spotting and steering clear of these tiny intruders can help keep everyone comfortable and bite-free. So before your next sunny day out, know what to watch for to keep the ants from spoiling the fun!

Large, black, and causes destruction. Carpenter ants thrive around damp wood meaning if there is moisture these ants will seek to wreak havoc. Wood is used for nest building instead of nutrition, so if your home has a crawl space, deck, porch, windows, and foundation cracks, these big black ants will stop at nothing to gnaw away at the moist wood. When the nest gets too crowded these ants will swarm looking for other mates to build a new nest. While they are not venomous, carpenter ants will bite if disturbed.

The acrobat ant is known for its skills to raise its abdomen above the head as a defense mechanism and bite when threatened. They can be found around woodpiles, under rocks, in trees, and around electrical wires. Inside, these tiny reddish brown ants are seen gnawing away at the insulation of the electrical wires using it for their nest. These nests can be inside under floors or in the insulation between the walls to the outside in the mulch or soil.

Acrobat Ant

Pavement Ant

A teeny, tiny, army of ants strolling along the sidewalk are most likely pavement ants. While people assume ant nests aren’t being built under concrete, pavement ants are building away as they are tiny enough to get down under the surface through the cracks. These ants are attracted to sweet foods and grease and leave a pheromone trail for their nestmates to follow to and from the nest. While they are rarely aggressive they do bite. So if you have ever noticed the small irritation from sitting on the sidewalk it was probably because you were sitting on top of a pavement ant nest by mistake.

Fire ants arguably are the most well-known ant to bite. They are reddish-brown with a fierce instinct to attack anyone or anything that threatens their nest. By making mounds in grassy open areas, these nests can be seen by those walking in their path. Found in playgrounds, parks, sidewalks, or gardens these feisty ants want to be where food is easily exposed; even dog food. If you come across a fire ant mound unknowingly you will quickly realize as they rush in numbers to attack biting at your feet and legs.

Fire Ants

Appearance of Ant Bites

Surveying an insect bite can pose several questions because there are so many insects and let’s be honest, most of the bites look the same. You notice a red bump on your skin that may be itchy, may be painful, may be swollen, but just what was the source? Ant bites pose the same questions however some bites are worse than others. The bite of a pavement ant, for instance, is probably one of the least painful. However, to some people with higher allergic tendencies, this ant can cause a serious rash to develop. Fire ants could rank as the most painful due to power in numbers as 10s or 100s of them attack you at once. The overall appearance of an ant bite, by any species of ant, will typically be a swollen red bump that is painful and itchy. When an ant bites you they release a chemical called formic acid, which is what causes the painful sting and the swollen skin reaction. A raised bump with visible white pustules or blisters can also appear depending on your body’s reaction. Treatment for ant bites can be calmed by over-the-counter ointments or lotions for bug bites or by the soothing relief of an ice cube. However, severe reactions would always need to be handled by a medical professional.

How to Keep Ants Out

Oftentimes humans will notice the presence of ants around food and spilled liquid sources. Ants crave sweets and are always on the hunt to gather around for a delicious meal. I am sure you have noticed when trying to have a picnic you’re soon invaded by a hungry tiny ant army crawling all over your food. Even when you leave the dog food sitting outside for too long, ants will take over what was supposed to be your furry friend’s dinner.

Interestingly, these tiny creatures also thrive on slurping grease and eating other insects. However, do not count on ants being a form of pest control for other insect infestations. They won’t wipe them all out.

Ants enjoy warmth and will nest to find resources around warm spots. They also need moisture as a drinking source which is why they are found in or near damp areas.

Here is a list of hot spots for these tiny invaders:

• Wood foundations
• Window seals
• Insulation
• Electrical wires
• Leaky trash cans
• Under floors
• Trees
• Wood piles
• Trash/ food crumbs or spills
• Gardens
• Rocks
• Mulch
• Walkways / Driveways
• Porches
• Decks
• Grassy areas

Stop Ant Bites Before They Start

Prevention requires attention to detail and taking proactive steps to stop the invasion before it starts. Being aware of surroundings will help pinpoint where ants are nesting as well as being cautious of food or spilled liquids. This will need to be picked up and wiped away quickly to keep ant activity down. Removing any wood piles that sit and collect moisture is also a smart idea.

Inside, if you notice any activity you can follow the trail because usually there will be a line of ants coming and going from an area. That may lead to crumbs or a trash can with residue, to a crack around a window that may be gathering moisture. Clearing any temptation is key along with using proper treatments to stop ants from nesting near unwanted areas.

Professional Treatment to Stop Ants

While prevention is always a go-to, professional pest control services can do more by eliminating the source. Kapture Pest Control has technicians who know what they are doing when it comes to ants and have access to the right treatments needed for the removal of ant infestations. Kapture spots problem areas along the structure of your property as well as providing treatment to the entire outdoor area leaving you and your family at ease.

Call Kapture today and stomp out ants once and for all!

More articles:

Do Queen Have Wings?
Rat Control Near You in New Jersey
Fall Pest Control Tips for New Jersey Homeowners
Stink Bugs: New Jersey’s Autumn Menace
How Do Roaches Get Into the House

To learn more:

Our service area
Our carpenter bee control services
Our wasp control services
Our hornet control services
Our yellow jacket control services
Six Common Ticks Found in And Around New Jersey