When it comes to insects, strength in numbers is a powerful thing; especially for these tiny pests that are more than willing to use their numbers to their advantage.
The common ants around Tukwila vary widely in terms of species, color, size, and destructive capability. While some ants are simple nuisances in the home or garden, others are downright dangerous pests that should be avoided as much as possible. Some of the local species of ants here in Washington include:
- The Odorous House Ant
- The Carpenter Ant
- The Velvety Tree Ant
- The Pavement Ant
- The Pharaoh Ant
- The Fire Ant
The level of danger or general destruction these insects inflict on humans or property depends on their unique species. If not properly identified, the ants on your property may spread diseases, contaminate foods, erode wooden structures, and/or cause bites and stings that otherwise could have been avoided.
Not So Fantastic Ants And Where To Find Them
To combat ants and ant activity on the lawn, home and business owners are advised to thoroughly educate themselves on the proper identification of each major species. By reading the identification material below, Tukwila residents will have a knowledge of the dangers associated with each ant species and the reasons they should be kept out of the home.
- Fire Ants: Known for being some of the biggest and baddest ants on the block, these insects are capable of causing significant pain through their bites and stings. They are easily identified by their dark red bodies and black-tipped thoraxes.
- Carpenter Ants: These ants get their name from an insatiable habit of making nests in wooden structures. Identify these ants by their black coloration and large 1/4 to ½ inch size.
- Pharaoh Ants: A huge threat to hospitals and high-risk healthcare facilities, pharaoh ants spread illnesses and dangerous strains of bacteria from location to location. Yellowish-brown and less than 1/16 of an inch long, these ants are best identified by the red and black markings on their abdomen.
- Velvety Tree Ants: Much like carpenter ants, velvety tree ants are notorious for burrowing into wooden structures around the home. The fuzzy bodies and yellow-brown segments are easy to spot up close.
Not all ants are capable of biting and stinging, spreading diseases, or contaminating foods. However, they do not belong in any home or business. Here are ants that are generally considered to be nuisance pests around the home and lawn.
- Pavement Ants: About ¼ an inch long, pavement ants make their homes underneath sidewalks, driveways, and patio spaces all over the state. Discovering a trail of tiny brownish-black ants is the best method of identifying them.
- Odorous House Ants: These nuisance pests are true to their name as they can release a foul stench around the homes they’ve infested. A large, uneven thorax and black and brown color combination are features of this household pest.
Do you have questions about the type of ants that may be infesting your property right now? Reach out to Alta Pest Control now to receive a professional home inspection.
Get The Best In Ant Control With Alta Pest Control
Ants may be too numerous to completely occlude from your lawn, but the presence of powerful management solutions may keep their population down dramatically.
Do you need more expert ant advice for your lawn? Contact the professionals at Alta Pest Control today for total ant control no matter the species. Let’s find a way to best the pests together.
