Picnic crashers or pantry raiders, ants in your home or business are unwelcome guests, so ant removal is important in Colorado Springs.
Ant Species of Colorado Springs
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
One of the largest ants in the U.S., carpenter ants are typically ⅛- to ½-inch long, with the queen being slightly bigger. They are black or reddish-brown in color, with yellowish hairs on their abdomen. Contrary to popular belief, they do not eat wood, but they do nest in it, particularly decaying wood.
If you witness flying ants in Colorado Springs, it is likely that they are carpenter ant “swarmers,” which you will typically see in the spring as they branch out to establish new colonies.
Field Ants (Formica spp.)
The most common ant found in yards, the field ant has the same coloration as carpenter ants, for which they are often mistaken. You can use their nests to tell them apart. Carpenter ants will leave sawdust at the entrance of their nest. Field ants create mounds of loose soil and may incorporate twigs, leaves, and other natural debris.
Odorous House Ant (Tapinoma sessile)
Odorous house ants, or OHAs, are very small, just 1/16- to ⅛-inch long. They are dark brown to black in color and will nest outside or indoors. Their distinguishing physical characteristic is that they emit an odor when disturbed or crushed that has been described as smelling like rancid butter or coconuts. Their behavioral identifier is that they will raise their abdomens and run around when disturbed.
Pavement Ant (Tetramorium caespitum)
Another common ant in Colorado Springs is the pavement ant, which has a brown body with lighter-colored legs. Like OHAs, they only grow to about ⅛ inch in length. Their nests are the ones you find at cracks in the sidewalk, seams in driveways, and at the foundation of buildings, thus the name “pavement ant.”
Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
The pharaoh ant is golden yellow to red, with darker markings down its back, and is one of the tiniest ants at only 1/12- to 1/16-inch in length. You are more likely to find these ants in your home because they love warm, humid places, like kitchen areas and furnace rooms. They are so tiny that an entire colony can exist in the electrical box of a light switch.
Ant Prevention Tips & Tricks
The sooner you take care of an ant problem in your home, the easier it will be to eliminate them. While a Colorado Springs ant exterminator will help the most, you can also follow these recommendations:
- Keep dry goods, baking ingredients, and all foodstuffs in airtight containers.
- Seal potential entryways.
- Remove trash regularly.
- Locate the nesting areas by following the worker ants back to the nest.
- Remove water sources.
- Use ant bait/ant traps.
- Use diatomaceous earth on outdoor colonies.
Your Ant Exterminator in Colorado Springs
For ant removal, turn to the professionals at Evergreen Pest Solutions. We will identify the ant, find the nest (if you haven’t already), and eliminate the problem. If you have an ant infestation, inside or out, contact us today for an initial Integrated Pest Management evaluation and treatment plan. We are here to meet your ant removal needs in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
