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Explore Eco-friendly Home Pest Control Maintenance for Your Family. Request a Free, No-Obligation Quote.Why Do Ants Attack? 2 Oct 2023, 8:41 am
Few things are more frightening than dealing with an ant attack. While most ant species are small, they can attack in large numbers and if you find yourself in the middle of an ant attack, it can be hard to know how you should react.
If you want to be prepared for an ant attack, it’s a good idea to learn why ants attack and what you can do to prevent this scary situation from occurring. Here’s some information to help you understand why ants attack, what species are more prone to attacks, and what you can do to avoid being involved in an ant attack.
Why Do Ants Attack?
If you want to reduce your chances of being involved in an ant attack, then it’s important that you learn why ants can be aggressive towards humans. While ant behavior can differ from species to species, the reason that most ants decide to attack humans is because they feel threatened.
For example, in most ant colonies, there are groups of ants whose sole purpose is defending the colony or queen from outside threats. If you’re going for a stroll through the woods and stray too close to an ant colony, the ants may perceive you as a threat, resulting in them attacking you to drive you away from the colony.
Even individual ants can attack if they feel that their safety is at risk. If you see an ant in your home and try to pick it up, it’s possible that the ant will attack you to protect itself. If you want to avoid ant attacks, it’s best to stay aware of your surroundings so that you can give ants the space they need to feel safe.
Ants and Predators
As mentioned, ants will almost always attack when they feel threatened. However, there are certain circumstances where ants choose not to attack because doing so may put the entire colony at risk.
For example, if a predator comes too close to an ant colony, the ants will absolutely defend themselves. However, if ants encounter a predator on their own while away from the colony, they will usually run away instead of attacking. The reason for this is very simple – the ants’ main goal is protecting the colony and attacking a predator that isn’t an imminent threat is needlessly risky.
If attacking risks the safety of the colony, ants will usually not attack.
Which Ants Attack?
Now that you know some of the basic facts about why ants attack, it’s a good idea to learn which species are more prone to attacking humans. Just like people, some ants are more aggressive than others. Knowing which ants will attack can help you protect yourself from being harmed.
Almost every species of ants can bite because they have mandibles. However, most species will only do so as a last resort. Other species, such as fire ants, are a lot more aggressive and might attack at even the slightest provocation. Ants that you see in your home such as carpenter or argentine ants are more of a risk to your house than they are to you, meaning you shouldn’t be too worried about them attacking.
About Fire Ants
Fire ants are one of the more aggressive species that you may encounter, so it’s a good idea to learn about this type of ant to reduce your risk of an attack.
One of the most interesting things about fire ants is that they made their way to the United States by accident. However, now that they’re here, they can be a real nuisance to anyone that comes across this species.
The likelihood of a fire ant attack depends on the age of the ants with which you are dealing. Fully grown worker fire ants, for example, are well-known for their aggressive tendencies. On the other hand, younger fire ants that have not yet matured prefer to avoid conflict, sometimes playing dead to avoid the need to attack.
In most cases, you’re only at risk for a fire ant attack if you’re outdoors and too close to a colony. However, in some circumstances, fire ants have been known to attack indoors, meaning you should always be on the lookout for this ant species.
Do Ants Attack Each Other?
(mage via Flickr by Pietro Di Bello
After learning that ants attack people, it’s common to want to know if ants will attack each other. As you might expect, ants will attack each other in a wide variety of circumstances.
Just like when they attack people, the most common reason ants attack each other is to protect their colony and its surrounding territory. If one ant species gets too close to another species’ territory, a conflict will absolutely occur. Ants will often attack other ants to take control of food and other resources, making them a lot like humans in this regard.
Sometimes ants will attack other ants in their own colony. In most cases, this is in an effort to strengthen the colony. Ants will also attack other insects if they consider the insect prey. As in most cases, ants will attack other insects in swarms.
Why Are Ant Attacks Serious?
Because ants are so small, it’s common to assume that their attacks aren’t that serious. While this can be true in most cases, ant attacks can be very deadly, particularly if you have an ant allergy.
When most people are bitten or stung by an ant, the only result is a little pain and itching for a few days. However, if you’re allergic to ant bites, being attacked can cause anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that almost always requires medical attention. If an ant attack results in an allergic reaction, it can be very serious, even deadly.
Prevent Ant AttacksAnt attacks, while not frequent, can certainly happen, especially if you’re not paying attention to where you’re walking and stumble upon an ant hill. If you want to make sure that you’re not at risk for an ant attack, it’s best to talk with an ant expert so that you know what ant species are in your area and how likely they are to attack you if they feel threatened.
What You Can Do About Those Small Red Ants in Your Kitchen 18 Sep 2023, 7:12 am
Seeing small red ants in your kitchen may make you want to panic. Do you have an infestation? Are you dealing with fire ants? How do you get the invaders to leave? Follow this guide for answers to these questions.
Identifying the Small Red Ants in Your Kitchen
Many species of ants are easily confused with fire ants. Though you don’t want any ant visitors indoors, correctly identifying the type you’re dealing with will make it easier to pick the best way to get rid of them. For example, some species are attracted to plants you have around the house. These are the small red ants you’re likely to deal with in the United States:
- Argentine ants: These ants have a light brown or reddish body, but you can tell them apart from fire ants by their black heart-shaped abdomen. These ants are roughly 0.13 inches long and build colonies under the shelter of wood, leaves, and stones. They aren’t picky eaters but love sugary substances and protein.
- Caribbean crazy ants: These ants are a golden reddish-brown, making them easy to confuse with fire ants. This species is smaller, though, and doesn’t grow much longer than 0.13 inches. They’re common in Florida and Texas and eat a variety of foods.
- Fire ants: Fire ants are red all over and grow between approximately 0.13 and 0.5 inches long. You can also identify red fire ants by checking their mounds. This species will build colonies without openings in the soil. They use underground tunnels to get access to their nests.
- Odorous house ants: These ants are smaller and darker than fire ants. You can identify them by their smell as well — they emit an odor like rotten coconuts when squished. This species prefers sugars and dead insects.
- Pharaoh ants: Pharaoh ants are small, growing up to approximately 0.063 inches long. This makes them considerably shorter than red fire ants. Pharaoh ants are also more of a reddish brown and have a black abdomen. These ants will eat proteins, sugars, fats, grease, and other insects (dead or alive).
- Pyramid ants: These ants have a red head and thorax but, like Argentine ants, have a black abdomen. They grow about 0.13 inches long and build nests in the sunshine unobstructed by any debris. Pyramid ants have a varied diet that includes fats and oils.
What Draws Ants to Your Kitchen — and How You Can Keep Them Out
Image via Flickr by Charlie Stinchcomb
Ants come into your home to survive. To make your property less appealing to these visitors, consider what ants are looking for and how you can take that away from them:
- Food: Though some ants have dietary preferences, few are picky eaters. The small red ants in your kitchen are likely inside because they’ve found a food source. Prevent this from happening by cleaning up spills and crumbs immediately and performing routine deep cleans.
- Moisture: Ants need food and water to survive. They’ll go wherever they can find both. Some ants also prefer a dark, damp environment where they can build their nests. Many species build colonies in walls or floorboards or use tunnels that other ants or termites have abandoned. Check for leaky pipes that will help sustain an ant population in your home, and look for cracks in the walls or foundation that ants may use to access your property.
- Shelter: Ants are likely to come in your home and hibernate in the winter, where they’ll remain dormant until the weather warms up — meaning you could have an infestation for months and not know it. Some ants may even come inside seeking shelter from the rain. To keep this from happening, use prevention methods like removing debris from your yard and applying a spray of vinegar and water to your doors and windows.
Regions Where You’re Most Likely to Have an Ant Problem
Image via Flickr by emrank
Ants live on every continent except Antarctica, so if you don’t work to deter ants, you could have an infestation in your home. Though ants live everywhere people do, they’re cold-blooded insects that require warmth to live. This means ants are most active in warmer months. Some of the more aggressive and particularly problematic species are abundant in the Southern states, Central America, and the Southern Hemisphere.
Pharaoh ants, for instance, live throughout the United States but thrive in the warm climate of the South. Other species, such as Caribbean crazy ants and red fire ants, proliferate in Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii, and similar areas. If you live in one of these regions, take extra precautions to make your home unappealing for ants and make sure you’re maintaining your yard to avoid attracting them.
Getting Rid of Ants in Your Home
When ants find a way into your home regardless of your prevention attempts, you’ll need to step up your efforts to curb an infestation or irradiate a colony that’s already established itself as your new neighbor.
Clean Your Yard
Many ant species love taking shelter under rocks or fallen leaves or building colonies into decaying wood. Maintain your yard to make it less inviting for these insects.
Make a Natural Insecticide
A mix of soap and water sprayed on ants will kill them on the spot. However, this won’t target the colony. If you want to kill the queen and keep more ants from entering your home, pour boiling water or a puree of citrus peels down a mound entrance to kill ants. You can also mix cornmeal with boric acid. Ants will harvest the food and take it back to the colony, killing the queen and her workers.
Hire a Professional
Some of the DIY methods recommended are best for prevention or targeting mounds outside. If you’re dealing with an infestation or find that ants have built nests in your walls, contact a professional for help.
Small red ants in your kitchen will never be a welcome sight. Make your home less appealing for these insects, and reach out to a pest specialist if needed to handle an infestation.
What Makes Up an Ant’s Diet? 4 Sep 2023, 7:07 am
Did you ever have a parent complain about a mess left behind on the counter, appealing to your reason by stating, “That’s how we’ll get ants!” Well, your parents were right. Most ants commonly found in the United States are attracted to human food, and if you fail to clean up crumbs or drop some sugar on the floor, you could have an infestation on your hands. Of course, ants have a wide palate and don’t have to rely on humans for food — though they’ll certainly appreciate your hospitality.
Ants are omnivores, so they’re attracted to meat and plants. This includes a few shrubs that might be in your home right now. Take a look at what makes up an ant’s diet and learn what you should abolish from your countertops to avoid attracting certain species of these insects.
Aphids
Image via Flickr by Accretion Disc
Some types of ants pursue aphids — small, sap-sucking insects — and other small Hemiptera for their milk. Aphids serve a more fascinating purpose for some ant species, though. Dairying ants raise aphids like cattle, clipping their wings to ensure the aphids can’t fly away. They don’t eat the aphids. Instead, they shelter and milk them for the sugar-rich liquid they produce. This substance is known as honeydew.
You can keep ants who hunt aphids from entering your home by making a natural repellant and applying it around your property and garden. You can also release some ladybugs outside. These beneficial beetles eat aphids and other harmful insects.
Meat
Ants love meat, whether it’s a bowl of pulled pork you’ve laid out on a picnic blanket or a cockroach that’s died under your refrigerator. Though all ants will forage and look for food on the ground, different species take unique approaches to finding meat. Some are active hunters who will seek and kill live animals for food, and some look for carcasses. The latter category, similar to animals such as hyenas, search for animals in a state of decay and eat the meat they find there.
Keeping a clean home is key to preventing ants in search of meat from venturing into your personal space. Keep meat secure in your fridge or freezer, and clean up any material that winds up on your countertop while you’re preparing meat. You should also perform regular deep cleans where you move appliances and sweep out any food that’s fallen under your fridge or oven. Do your best to keep dishes from piling up in your sink as well. Meats and sauces stuck to plates will attract ants, too.
Live Animals
Some types of ants are predators who hunt live animals, including other ants. This includes the following species and their preferred foods:
- Army ants: The name “army ants” refers to over 200 species that raid mounds to feast on other ants, eggs, and queens. Army ants are found in the southern United States and in Central and South America.
- Jumping ants: Also known as “jack jumper ants,” this species — native to Australia — hunts and uses venom to kill other ants, arthropods, crickets, and arachnids.
- Trap-jaw ants: Trap-jaw ants are native to subtropical regions. They use their intimidating mandibles to crush and eat live prey.
Plants
Image via Flickr by theogeo
Peonies, wild parsnips, and desert willows are three types of plants that attract ants. Each of these shrubs produces nectar, so if you have them in your yard or inside your home, they may attract ants. If you want to avoid ants completely, use other plants in your interior and exterior decorations. Some plants, like mint and garlic, will even repel ants and other unwanted insects. You may also work with a pest specialist to keep the insects away from your property.
Fruits and Veggies
Ants are attracted to fruits for the same reason they prefer nectar: the sweet taste. Wipe your counters if any citrus spills on them, and note that ants will find plenty to harvest from rinds and peels as well. Ants will also eat vegetables and seeds if given the chance. If you grow fruits or vegetables indoors or keep a garden, talk to a professional about preventive measures to avoid attracting ants.
Fungus
Leafcutter ants are known for harvesting leaves, but they don’t actually eat the vegetation. Instead, they partially eat the leaves and create farms using the chewed material. This process produces a fungus the ants harvest to feed their colonies. Leafcutter ants are found in Central and South America, so this species isn’t a problem for homes in the United States.
Eggs
Though ants would jump at the chance to eat egg white or yolk that you spill on the floor, it’s more common for them to eat insect eggs — including the ones their own queen lays. Though not their preferred food source, ants may eat their own eggs in these circumstances:
- When a queen begins a new colony, she may eat some of the eggs she lays to sustain herself until the first workers hatch.
- The queen may also feed her eggs to the first generation of larvae as they grow.
- If food is ever scarce or the colony is distressed, the queen may eat her own eggs.
All Other Human Food — and Pet Food, Too
Ants aren’t picky eaters. If they enter your home and find food on countertops or uncovered in your cabinets, they’ll eat it. They’re capable of breaking down and consuming virtually everything humans can, including animal fat, oil, grains, and sugar. They’ll even help themselves to your pet’s food if given the chance.
Ants have such a wide diet that keeping them out of your home can be difficult. Maintaining a clean kitchen, cleaning up spills promptly, and performing routine deep cleans under appliances will make your home less appealing to these visitors. Also, remember to check doors and windowsills for flies and other insects that have died there. Ants will eat those carcasses, so you should dust or sweep there regularly.
In the event of an infestation or if you want to take some preventive measures to keep ants off your property, seek help from a pest specialist in your area.
What Do Ants Do in the Winter? 21 Aug 2023, 6:59 am
When the weather is nice, you may notice ants busily building their mounds in your yard or crawling on trees in your neighborhood. What happens in the winter when the weather is too cold for ants? Those ants are still in your yard — or maybe they’ve found shelter in your home until things warm up again. Here’s a closer look at exactly what ants do in winter.
Ants Invite Themselves Into Your Home
Image via Flickr by patrickkavanag
Ants are cold-blooded, so they require warmth in the winter to stay alive. Your home is a fantastic shelter for this purpose. It’s temperate and provides all the food and moisture they’ll need to survive a few cold months. You may not realize you have an infestation, though, even if hundreds of ants have moved into your home. Instead, ants are likely to hide in your walls or floors. Some may stay hidden in your cabinets and only come out to search for food.
Ants come inside for warmth, but food sources — such as the plants and grains they enjoy in spring and summer — are also scarce in the winter. For this reason, they may venture into your personal space in search of food.
To discourage ants from inviting themselves in, keep your countertops clean and wipe up any crumbs that fall on the floor. Also, keep pet food sealed to avoid attracting ants.
Species You’re Most Likely to See in the Winter
Depending on where you live, these are the ant species you’re most likely to share your home with in the winter:
- Acrobat ants
- Argentine ants
- Carpenter ants
- Crazy ants
- Dark rover ants
- Ghost ants
- Odorous ants
- Pharaoh ants
- White-footed ants
In addition to keeping your home clean, you can try a few natural recipes for repelling ants, such as applying a mix of water and vinegar or lemon to your windowsills and doorways. Also, take care to not decorate your home with plants that attract ants, such as peonies and wild parsnip. A mix of dish soap and water can kill ants on the spot, and you can purchase some diatomaceous earth to prepare a natural solution for solving your ant problem.
Other Ways Ants Survive the Winter
If your home is uninhabitable for your neighborhood ants, the insects (depending on the species) can try a few other tricks to survive:
- Using a rock to generate heat: Some species of ant will build their colonies underneath a rock in the winter. The rock will warm up under the sun and provide sufficient heat to sustain the colony until they can emerge again in the spring.
- Using decomposing leaves: Leaves that fall and begin decomposing provide excellent shelter for ants. Leaves also provide some warmth that these insects can use to survive the winter. To avoid inviting ants into your yard in the fall and spring, rake fallen leaves and dispose of them properly.
- Using tree bark: Ants can also dig underneath tree bark and will hibernate there until the harsh weather passes. Try some dish soap to keep ants out of your trees.
- Building special tunnels and mounds: To maintain their body temperature, some ants build special tunnels that retain their body heat. The insects will also close the entrances of their mounds in the winter to keep heat from escaping.
- Digging deeper: Ants may also dig deeper into the ground and group together to generate extra heat.
- Feasting in the autumn: When the weather starts getting colder in the fall, some species of ants start preparing for a long winter by upping their intake of fats, carbs, and proteins. Just like other animals who hibernate, these ants put on extra fat to help them keep warm while they’re dormant.
- Clustering: Whether ants have found a good rock for shelter or have burrowed into a tree or your walls, they can generate extra warmth by clustering together. They usually center their cluster around their queen(s) to keep them warm and protect their population.
Though ants will use one of these techniques or make their way into a nearby home to hole up for the winter, they aren’t very active during this season. In fact, ants hibernate when it’s too cold for them to thrive. As soon as they’re able to consistently regulate their body temperature, they’ll arise from their winter slumber in search of new shelter and food.
Ants in Some Regions Can Thrive in the Winter
Ants change their behavior in the season simply because of the temperature and the scarcity of food. In regions where the temperature stays between 75 and 95 degrees in the winter or only dips outside of that range briefly, ants won’t have to change their behavior much — if at all.
Ants Will Emerge When the Temperature Rises
As soon as the weather is warm enough, ants will emerge from their shelter and get back to work. If you had an infestation but didn’t know it because the insects were hibernating, you may be in for an unpleasant spring.
The first wave of workers will leave the nest in search of food. If they find it outside, they’ll come back to report the news and hopefully nest closer to the source. If they find enough food in your home, however, the ants may not move from the security of your walls or floors until the environment can no longer sustain them.
What Does It Mean When Ants Are in Your House During the Winter?
Image via Flickr by fronx
Since most species of ants are dormant during the winter, you probably won’t have to deal with a pest problem (or even know you have an infestation) all season. You may see a few foragers, but you’re not likely to encounter many ants in the winter.
To avoid pest problems come spring, you need to winterize your home to make it less appealing for ants. In addition to the tips listed above for keeping these insects out of your home, perform a deep clean in the fall. Also, consider working with a local pest specialist to deal with any mounds in your yard before the ants seek the shelter of your home.
Using Borax Powder to Kill Ants 7 Aug 2023, 11:10 am
Whether they’ve found their way into your home after a heavy rain or because you missed cleaning up a few crumbs on the counter, ants are a pest that seem to immediately take over your home when they find a way inside. When you discover ants in your home, you want them gone right away. While you’ll find several ways to kill ants, if you’re looking for an effective solution, consider using borax.
The Difference Between Boric Acid and Borax
Image via Flickr by jkirkhart35
Although they’re both used as a pesticide, boric acid and borax do have some differences. Borax is a mineral mined from the ground. You can find it in cosmetics, toothpastes, soaps, weed killers, and it’s most often used as an alternative to harsh laundry detergents. After further processing, borax turns into boric acid. Whether you have borax or boric acid, it’s important to remember that you need to keep these products away from children and pets. Additionally, be careful when you’re using it because it might cause skin irritation.
Why Is Borax Lethal to Ants?
Although borax has a low toxicity rate for humans and other animals, it’s fatal for ants when they come in contact with it. When ants eat the borax bait, it interferes with their digestive system and eventually kills them. However, it’s not an immediate death. That’s because, for effective ant control, you need to eliminate the queen and the rest of the colony. Worker ants will consume the borax bait and bring it back to the colony for the other ants to eat.
Using Borax to Kill Ants
It’s important to keep in mind that if you’re thinking about using borax powder, ants aren’t attracted to it alone. In order to entice them to bring it back to the colony, you have to mix the borax with some of their favorite foods. The first step is figuring out where the ants are entering your home. The easiest way to find their entrance is to simply follow the trail of ants.
When ants find food, they leave behind a pheromone trail so that other ants in their colony can immediately locate the same food and bring it back to the nest. These trails are an ideal place to put your borax bait, but it’s even better if you can place the bait right in their entryway. That way, they’re not even coming inside your home.
Making Borax Ant Bait
Since all ants’ digestive systems work the same way no matter what species you’re dealing with, borax is an effective killer whether you have sugar ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, or almost any other type of ant in your home. The important thing to keep in mind is that you need a variety of liquid and solid baits.
Although it seems like ants will eat anything in sight, adult ants can’t digest solid foods and only eat liquids. On the other hand, larvae can process solid foods and turn it into a liquid that the queen will then eat. A variety of baits will make sure you eliminate the entire colony.
Liquid Borax Ant Bait Recipes
You’ll find several types of liquid borax ant bait recipes, so it helps to try out different options to see which one works better for the species of ant you’re dealing with. No matter which recipe you use, you’ll need some type of container to hold the bait. You can use a small plastic container, plastic lid, paper plate, or cotton ball. The only important part is to make sure the ants can easily get in and out of your bait holder.
One recipe you can try calls for a half cup of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of borax, and 1.5 cups of warm water. Simply mix all the ingredients together until they’re blended, and place the bait in the trap for the ants to consume.
Another recipe to try, calls for three parts sugar for every one part borax. For example, if you use 1 cup of sugar you’ll need to mix it with one-third cup of borax. Blend these two ingredients together until you have no more lumps. Next, add enough water to turn the mixture into a thick paste. For the above example, about one-quarter cup of water will suffice. Finally, add about one-quarter cup of syrup to the mixture for a thick, sticky substance the ants can’t resist.
Solid Borax Ant Bait Recipe
For the solid borax ant recipe, you want to use the same 1-to-3 ratio mentioned in the liquid ant bait recipe. However, in this case, you’ll want to mix the borax with powdered sugar. As an example, if you use three-quarters of a cup of powdered sugar, you’ll want to combine it with one-quarter of a cup of borax. Then simply stir the ingredients together to make sure they’re completely mixed.
You can use the solid and liquids baits inside and outside, but if you use them in your garden, you need to make sure you put the mixture in a lid or other type of plastic container. Borax is also an herbicide, and it can kill your plants if you pour the mixture directly over them.
Using Borax to Kill Fire Ants
Fire ants are an invasive species that can cause plenty of issues if they decide to create a nest in your yard. Luckily, borax also effectively kills these colonies. Just keep in mind that you want to try to kill just the fire ants and not any indigenous ants. This is because if you kill every ant in your yard, you’re only leaving room for more fire ants to move in and take over the area.
Sparing the indigenous ants will help keep the ecosystem balanced. The easiest way to focus your borax baits for just fire ant consumption is to get a container of bait as close to the fire ant mound as safely possible. Then let the worker ants take care of the rest.
If you find ants in your home or yard, you now know how you can use borax to make liquid and solid baits to attract ants and ultimately kill the colony.
Top 7 Household Products to Kill Ants 24 Jul 2023, 11:06 am
Dealing with an ant problem? Even if you’ve got good ants on your property, you may need to kill the ones that have entered your home. Don’t make a trip to the hardware store yet, though—you may have the ingredients at home to treat your insect problem. Use these seven household products to kill ants without pesticide.
1. Vinegar and Water
Vinegar mixed with water can repel and kill ants. It’s also not dangerous to humans unless you have an allergy. The only drawback is the smell it leaves behind.
Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture on any entry points that ants may use to gain access to your house, such as windows and doors. This is effective for all ants in general as a preventive measure to repel them. You can also spray it directly on the insects to kill them, though this won’t help you target a colony or queen. This mixture is nontoxic and totally safe to use indoors.
2. Lemon Juice and Water
If you don’t have vinegar, you can use lemon juice instead. This offers the same benefits as the vinegar recipe with the added bonus that lemon juice and water will be far more palatable if accidentally consumed. The lemon juice will also leave behind a much better smell. Add one part lemon juice to three parts water. Spray directly on ants to kill them and on entry points around your home to repel them. This works for all types of ants.
3. Citrus Blend
Image via Flickr by AtomicP
Do you have oranges, lemons, or grapefruit around the house? These fruits offer a nontoxic way to kill ants. Prepare yourself a smoothie or snack, but save the peels from the fruit. Simply blend the peels into a puree and pour the mixture into ant hills outside. This can kill any type of ants plaguing your home. The mix isn’t dangerous to humans in any way, unless you have a sensitivity to citrus. Since only fruits are needed, the mixture is nontoxic and smells wonderful.
4. Boiling Water
If you don’t have citrus peels, you can also kill ants by pouring boiling water into an ant hill. You can do this with a funnel or a watering pot for flowers, but be mindful of the heat. Another approach is to turn a flower pot upside down over a hill and pour the scalding water through the hole in the bottom.
This method is only effective if the water stays hot enough to travel through the ants’ tunnels and reach the queen. The water will cool quickly once you pour it on the ground, and you’ll also have to get the hot water from your kitchen to the yard quickly before it cools and become nonlethal to the ants. This trick may not work on large or well-constructed hills.
Using boiling water is another nontoxic method of killing ants, but dealing with such hot liquid can be dangerous if it comes into contact with your skin.
5. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth may not be a common household product, but it’s useful for a variety of purposes. It’s found in deodorant and toothpaste, and some people use it to make their own facial scrubs. Food-grade diatomaceous earth can be consumed with a glass of water as a detox solution.
To use diatomaceous earth for ants, simply sprinkle it around areas likely to attract the insects, such as cabinets, window sills, and door. You can also sprinkle some directly onto hills. This method works to kill any type of ants — the mixture dries out insects’ exoskeletons, so it’s an effective solution for ants and critters like lice and roaches.
Diatomaceous earth is nontoxic and totally safe for humans. It can even be consumed. In fact, some people use it to purify water and treat gastrointestinal problems. You may want to wear a dust mask when sprinkling it around the house, however, to avoid breathing it in and aggravating your lungs.
6. Dish Soap
Dish soap and water is another effective solution for a variety of insects, including all types of ants. It’s also safe for humans and won’t lead to any serious problems if consumed. Prepare your DIY solution by mixing equal parts dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Ants breathe through their joints, and by coating them with soapy water, they suffocate. This trick also treats the chemical ants leave behind for others to follow.
Since this solution will only kill ants by contact, it’s best used in conjunction with a method that targets the queen and will eliminate entire colonies.
7. Boric Acid
If you’ve had to deal with roaches or ants in the past, you may have some boric acid in your home. This is a primary ingredient in roach traps and sprays that people may use around their properties for pests. Some people also use borax and boric acid for things like homemade laundry soap.
If you have boric acid on its own, you can make a DIY ant trap. Just mix the material in a soda or soup can with sugar or a similar ingredient. The ants will harvest the tainted sugar and take it back to their colony. This can kill any type of ants you’re dealing with. Another trick with boric acid is to mix it with cornmeal and leave it out on a paper plate or piece of cardboard. Worker ants won’t eat the cornmeal, but they’ll carry it back to feed larvae in the colony.
Boric acid kills ants, but it’s toxic to humans if ingested. Side effects include vomiting and other stomach-related problems. It will irritate the skin and is far more dangerous if it comes into contact with your eyes.
These solutions are easy to prepare and can be done with a few simple ingredients you likely have around the home. Plus, excluding boric acid, they’re nontoxic and will just leave a bad taste in your mouth or some minor skin irritation if eaten or touched. Try these out the next time you’re dealing with ants or want to fortify your home before any of these insects invite themselves in.
Mutualism and Leaf Cutter Ants: How It All Works 26 Jun 2023, 11:00 am
Leaf ants are one of the most interesting ant species in the entire world. Found across Central America, South America, and parts of North America, leaf ants, which are also called leaf cutter ants, have several characteristics that make them unique when compared to other ant species. One peculiarity that sets them apart is their participation in mutualism.
In fact, mutualism is a defining characteristic of leaf cutter ants. As such, leaf cutter ant mutualism deserves more study and attention. Learning about leaf cutter ants mutualism can help you can understand more about how these small creatures live and what makes them so interesting and unique.
What is Mutualism?
Before discussing leaf cutter ants mutualism, let’s understand what mutualism is and how it works in general. While mutualism might seem complicated, it’s actually very simple if you know the right facts. Mutualism is also commonly referred to as a symbiotic relationship, which are relationships between multiple species. While most people assume that symbiotic relationships are beneficial all around, but this isn’t always the case. In reality, there are several different types of symbiotic relationships that affect each species in different ways.
For example, parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another. Another type of symbiotic relationship called commensalism, which is when one species is not affected by the relationship while the other species benefits. Mutualism, as you may suspect, is a symbiotic relationship where every species involved benefits in some way. If you want the perfect example of mutualism, look no further than the leaf cutter ant.
Leaf Ants and Mutualism
Image via Flickr by dullhunk
Leaf ants get their name from their habit of leaving their colony to forage for leaves. After cutting leaves, the ants will bring them back to their colony. However, these leaves aren’t for consumption. Instead, they are used to grow fungus within the leaf cutter ant colony, which is where mutualism comes into play.
When leaf ants bring foliage back to their colony, they will grind up the leaves. Once this process is complete, they will place the plant material in a fungus garden so that the fungus can grow. The ants will then eat the fungus. So, the ants and the fungus that they grow are involved in mutualism. The fungus is provided with the plant material it needs to grow and the ants have a consistent food source.
Another example of mutualism when it comes to leaf cutter ants has to do with how the ants maintain their fungus garden. Fungus can only grow if it is free from pests, which means the leaf ants must constantly tend their garden to prevent these fungi pests from spreading. On the skin of leaf ants live bacteria whose only purpose is preventing fungi pests. Leaf ants and the bacteria on their skin are also involved in mutualism because the bacteria are allowed to live on the ants in exchange for helping the ants care for their fungus garden.
Now that you know the basics of leaf cutter ants mutualism, we can dive into this subject in greater detail.
Starting the Colony
Perhaps the most interesting fact related to leaf ants is how their colonies and their fungus gardens are formed. During mating season, a young leaf ant queen will set out to start a new colony. In order to do so, she takes a small amount of fungus from her old colony. After a bit of searching, she will find a spot that’s suitable for laying eggs and starting a new colony.
The queen will lay her eggs and build a chamber for the fungus. Once the eggs hatch, the new worker ants will be responsible for tending to the fungus to support mutualism. Until that time occurs, the queen will take care of the fungus. Leaf cutter ants are considered social insects, which means different ants serve different roles within the colony. Some ants will forage for leaves, others will take care of the fungus garden, and some will be responsible for defending the colony.
Preventing Contamination
Because leaf ants and the fungus that they tend to and eat are so dependent on each other, both are especially vulnerable to harm. For instance, both can be killed by a variety of microbes, many of which can be found on the leaves that the ants and the fungus need to survive. Fortunately, their symbiotic relationship works to protect each species from harm.
First, fungus has the natural ability to protect itself from microbes by producing antibiotics, which can also protect ants when they eat the fungus. Second, when ants grow their garden, they are very careful about cleaning both themselves and the fungus. In addition to weeding their gardens, many leaf ant colonies have a dedicated waste storage chamber, which serves to further protect the garden. The fecal matter of leaf ants also contains several chemicals that can suppress pests and promote fungal growth. As you can see, the relationship between ants and fungus gardens helps to protect both, which is the essence of mutualism.
Antimicrobials and Ants
In a previous section, we briefly touched on the fact that certain types of bacteria can live on the skin of leaf ants. Examining this issue in a little more detail can help you better understand how mutualism works.
These bacteria are very interesting in that their antifungal properties will attack pests while leaving the fungus in the garden unharmed. This bacteria, which is usually Actinobacteria, reside on the ant’s belly, meaning it will easily be transferred to the fungus. In some cases, the fungus will develop a resistance to the beneficial bacteria, meaning it will no longer be protected from pests. When this occurs, it’s possible that the colony will collapse. Leaf cutter ant mutualism is one of the main reasons that the leaf cutter ant is a particularly fascinating ant species. You can learn several other fascinating facts about leaf cutter ants by consulting with an ant professional.
Pests by State 23 Jun 2023, 9:26 am
Northwest
Wyoming: Miller moth
Everyone has seen a light bulb covered in moths before. Miller moths are probably the most harmless but annoying pest. As they migrate west, they pester Wyoming citizens by their sheer volume and ability to sneak into any room. These pests travel by night and are attracted to lights emanating from your house. Their strength lies in numbers not brains, so they tend to get stuck fluttering around garages and houses. Source, SourceAlaska: Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants are among the few pests that can survive Alaska’s harsh climate. They withstand the cold using a natural antifreeze. However, these are not trustworthy carpenters. These scammers will construct their home in your home. This invasion can cause significant structural damage as well theft from your pantry. Following the small trails of sawdust they leave is the best way to locate their nests. SourceNorth Dakota: Boxelder bug
Native to North Dakota, boxelder trees are boxelder bugs’ favorite food. They stay close to their food, so if you’re finding them around your house, they’re likely feeding and mating in trees nearby. Large swarms tend to sneak through cracks in houses when winter rolls around. Pro tip: Avoid squashing these pests. They impart a stinky smell and stain when squished. Source, SourceSouth Dakota: Earwigs
Luckily for South Dakotans, earwigs don’t really crawl into your ear and lay eggs in your brain. However, you may see them at night as they are attracted to lights and damp places such as your bathroom, basement, and laundry room. Don’t worry, their pincers aren’t intended for humans but for hunting and fighting other earwigs. If you are pinched, it’s far more gross than painful. Source, SourceWashington: Norway rats
Well, rats. The biggest pest problem in Seattle is the Norway rat. This pest loves burrowing in crawl spaces, basements, and other hidden areas. A rat of many names, Norway rats are also called brown rats, sewer rats, and wharf rats. Also a rat of many tastes, they like to chew through pipes, electrical wires, pantries, and every inch of your house. Source, SourceOregon: Hobo spider
Fast, frequent, and supposedly furious, many people fear hobo spiders. They are the most commonly submitted spider for identification in Oregon. Yet, the belief that hobo spiders have a harmful flesh-killing bite is actually false. Only two hobo spider bites have ever been confirmed. One of these bites was in Oregon. The symptoms were temporary and mild redness, pain, and twitching. All legs and no bite? Source, Source, SourceIdaho: Mormon cricket
While hard to verify if Mormon crickets are Mormon, it is clear they’re not crickets. These native Idaho pests are closer to fat grasshoppers that can’t fly. Back in the day, they got their name from destroying early Mormon settlers’ crops. Although flightless, Mormon crickets migrate fast and eat over 400 species of plants. Source, Source, SourceMontana: Stink bugs
Thought to have caught a ride from Asia, the brown marmorated stink bug invaded Montana in 2021. They are known as stowaways, troublemakers, and unwanted house guests who are too comfortable with taking what isn’t theirs. As if eating over 170 different types of plants wasn’t enough, come winter, they will gladly sneak into your house and invite everyone they know. A study once collected 26,205 of these freeloaders from a single house. Source, Source, SourceWest
California: Bed bugs
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are among the top worst bed bug-ridden cities in the U.S. These vampires love traveling, and with so much travel to and from California, they find it perfect for hitching a ride on clothing, luggage, laundry, and hotels. If you’re visiting the Golden State, you might pick up an extra friend or twenty.
Nevada: Whiptail scorpion
Scorpion? Spider? Land lobster? You can run into all kinds of alarming things in Vegas, but a giant whiptail scorpion or vinegaroon may be the weirdest. Their name comes from their thin “tail” that releases vinegary acid when threatened. This foul-smelling acid makes up for their lack of a venomous bite or deadly sting. Their acid isn’t lethal, but it can cause irritation and blistering as well as stain fabrics. Like many of Nevada’s wonders, this pest is reserved to certain areas of the US.
Utah: Crickets
Do people eat crickets in Utah? The short answer is probably not. But the seagulls did. In 1848, seagulls saved early Utah settlers by eating up hordes of crop-destroying crickets. Ironically, the California gull is now Utah’s state bird. Moreover, these crickets weren’t crickets but closer to grasshoppers. Nowadays Utah has several cricket species that will eat plants, fabrics, foods, papers, and even each other. While they usually wreak havoc outdoors, they will occasionally slip into homes through cracks and other openings.
Colorado: Colorado potato beetle
The Colorado potato beetle isn’t native to Colorado, but Colorado was one of the first states where these pests were found. It has gone through many names, but it was eventually tied to Colorado because of the amount observed there. They are a major problem for home gardens and the agricultural industry. If left unchecked, Colorado potato beetles can kill an entire potato field by mid-summer. Once a population is established, it doesn’t stop growing.
Hawaii: Coconut rhinoceros beetle
When coconut rhinoceros beetles first invaded Palau, many islands’ coconut tree populations were entirely destroyed. This hefty beetle invaded Hawaii around 2013. While it’s named after its favorite food, it also damages and kills banana, sugarcane, pineapple, and sisal plants. The obvious sign of a coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation is v-shaped cuts and holes in coconut fronds.
Southwest
Arizona: Bark scorpion
Over 97% of scorpion stings occur within the home. The Arizona bark scorpion is not only the most lethal in North America, but the most common and only lethal scorpion found in Arizona. True climbers, they typically use your house’s vents to drop into cool areas like bathrooms, beds, and your baby’s crib. For small children and pets, their sting can cause severe reactions.
Source, Source, Source, Source
New Mexico: Assassin bug
The assassin bug is a rarity special to the bottom of the US with New Mexico being one of the most common states. This nimble bug got its name by impaling its victims with its beak, paralyzing them, and sucking out their insides like a slurpee. Because of their predatory diet, assassin bugs are great for gardeners. However, one wrong move and they will deliver a quick and incredibly painful bite.
Texas: Red Imported fire ant
Which pest causes hundreds of millions of dollars annually in damages, prevention, and health across Texas? And which pest stung over 79% of Texans in 2000 alone? That would be the red imported fire ant. This species with their odd affinity for short circuiting electric systems, nasty venom, and hobby of driving out native wildlife are incredibly invasive and aggressive. Since the 1950s, they have inhabited more than two-thirds of the state and continue marching across America.
Midwest
Minnesota: Asian lady beetles
Some ladybugs are not lucky. Minnesota’s seasonal Asian lady beetle is one such case. During the fall, they escape the oncoming winter by invading houses in large swarms. Once inside, they nestle into cracks in your house’s walls. These imposters can bite hard enough to break human skin, release a strong smelling liquid from their limbs, and stain surfaces when crushed. While they don’t do well indoors, Asian lady beetles are beneficial pests for gardens and farms.
Nebraska: Corn rootworm
Rootworm isn’t a home invader, but it is the most concerning pest for corn growers in Nebraska. These pests lay eggs in corn fields during the summer and then feed on corn roots in the spring. In their larvae phase, rootworms are the most damaging because they eat the plant roots. When they emerge as beetles, they feed on the plant silk. A deadly combo, the larvae stunt the growth and the adults disrupt the pollination.
Kansas: Walnut caterpillar
Walnuts, and pecans and hickory, oh my! Walnut caterpillars’ leafy appetite can cause serious damage to your yard. These pests form big squirmy clusters on trees as they feed on leaves. They’re most common in eastern states but found as far west as Kansas. Many trees fall to their ravenous appetite.
Iowa: Gnat
Nobody likes gnats in their produce or houseplants, especially not Iowans. Gnat species have become a state-wide menace in the agricultural landmark Iowa. Iowa’s particularly blood thirsty gnat species known as the buffalo gnat feeds on human blood to lay eggs. Biting gnat species like the buffalo gnat can transmit disease and kill livestock and wildlife. Even when gnats aren’t bloodthirsty, the massive swarms they form in your house and around your face are anything but enjoyable.
Ohio: Silverfish
The most common basement dwellers in Ohio are not 35-year-old men but silverfish. Like man-children, they will crawl around eating anything. To avoid human interaction, they will hide during the day and then look for food at night. These nuisances can eat up precious belongings and eat foods, leathers, photographs, wallpaper, glue, and other insects. While it is unclear what causes human basement dwellers, silverfish are drawn to secluded, air conditioned areas with clutter, carbohydrates, books, and dust.
Kentucky: Lice
According to Google Trends, Kentucky has a lice problem. The state has a staggering amount of searches regarding lice and lice shampoo. Lice are a year-long pest. They live exclusively on humans and are most common on children’s heads. As they jump from human to human, infestations can be hard to eliminate because they fall onto beds, clothing, hairbrushes, furniture, and other places infected hair touches. All it takes is for one tiny nit or egg to restart the entire infestation.
Missouri: Centipede
The house centipede is the most common centipede in Missouri. It enjoys damp areas like bathrooms and basements. As winter moves in, they sneak into houses looking for hiding places and food. They’re very fast, have long legs, and will scuttle off when a human approaches. If you look past their gross appearance, these houseguests may eat other pests for you.
Wisconsin: Bark beetles
Wisconsin’s millions of forested acres make the perfect home for some of the US’s 600 bark beetle species. Small but mighty, these pests spread from tree to tree killing thousands of acres. They don’t play fair and are drawn to weakened trees from drought, construction, or overpopulation. They may wander into your house, but your garden and landscape are where they deal damage and thrive. Since 2000, they’ve killed 85,000 square miles of forest in the western US.
Illinois: Sewer rat
Chicago has been named the rattiest city or “rat capitol” in the US on several occasions. The sewer rat or Norway rat carries fleas and ticks that can pass several diseases to humans. Sewer rats aren’t picky. They will eat the finest foods Chicago has to offer, trash, or their own young. Practically indestructible, these rats can fall from a five story building and walk away fine. The apartment they fell out of on the other hand will not be in such good condition.
Michigan: Mosquitoes
Michigan’s bountiful lakes put mosquitoes at the top of their pest concerns. The state has around 65 species of mosquitoes. Michigan mosquitoes can carry the West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis which are harmful to humans and pets. Although contracting diseases from these pests is not common, their bites are notorious for causing itching and swelling.
Indiana: Mice
Indiana ranks high for searches relating to mice and mouse traps. Two common mice in this state are house mice and eastern deer mice. Eastern deer mice are particularly hard to remove from houses and are one of the most widespread species throughout Indiana. Named after their preferred habitat, house mice depend on people for food and shelter. They are known to build their nests in walls, attics, and basements. Unfortunately, both house mice and western deer mice are terrible roommates.
South
Mississippi: Blowfly
There are 23 known species of blow flies in Mississippi. Stronger, shinier, and louder than normal houseflies, blow flies are quite a bother. Because they are attracted to lights, they are known to buzz loudly as they follow you from room to room. House infestations can start from a few blowflies zipping through a door or window. If you’re finding them in your home, they are likely breeding in your trash or some other decaying matter nearby.
Tennessee: Fleas
Fleas are everywhere. But Tennessee ranks higher than other southeastern states with 33 species of fleas. Fleas are a nuisance as well as a danger because they carry diseases. Despite the numerous flea species in this state, disease-carrying ticks are very rare. The cat flea is the most common flea found on Tennessee dogs and cats. This flea leaves itchy bites and can transmit dog tapeworm to pets and owners. Once fleas infest a house and host, they are very difficult to remove.
Alabama: Roly-poly
The classic and sweet roly-poly or pillbug can be found in all 50 states and is a beneficial pest to gardens and landscapes. Alabama’s greenery and humidity are perfect for these little terrestrial crustaceans. They work hard as decomposers eating decaying material and improving soil quality. While they don’t make their way indoors very often due to the dryness, they can harm vegetables, fruits, leaves, roots, and seedlings if the population grows too large.
Oklahoma: Brown recluse
Brown recluses are one of two highly venomous spiders found in Oklahoma. Also known as violin spiders, they prefer secluded areas like workplace corners, closets, bedrooms, furniture, shoes, and attics. People are often bitten by mistake when putting on old shoes or clothing, cleaning out storage, or rolling over in bed. Bites are painful and can cause severe symptoms. If a bite is left untreated, the skin will rot away and reveal the underlying tissue.
Arkansas: Chiggers
Arkansas’s greenery is chigger country. Contrary to popular belief, these microscopic mites don’t burrow into your skin and lay eggs or drink your blood. However, they are to blame for itching that lasts for weeks. Chiggers create a feeding tube in the skin that they suck liquified tissue out of. Bites are usually around the ankles and tight creases in clothing. It is common for kids and pets to become infested while playing outdoors and then bring them back into the house.
Louisiana: Mosquitoes
While all states suffer from mosquitoes, Louisiana wins the most mosquito-related searches according to Google Trends. This ranking may be because of the 64 mosquito species present in the hot and humid state. In 2022, the state had the fourth highest rate in the country for the mosquito-spread West Nile virus. For some, this virus has life-long and severe consequences. While mosquitoes are typically thought of as nuisances, they can transmit a number of potentially life-threatening diseases.
Southeast
Florida: Palmetto bug
The palmetto bug is a fake bug. It is a local name given to various large cockroaches found in Florida palmetto palms. The name most commonly refers to American roaches, Florida woods roaches, and smokey brown roaches. What isn’t fake is the damage and disease palmetto bugs can cause. These large cockroaches can invade kitchens, basements, bathrooms, storage rooms, and yards all while eating almost anything.
Georgia: Joro spider
In 2013 Georgia became famous for the new invasive Jorō spider that clutters homes, gas stations, streetposts, and lawns with its massive golden webs. It is believed this large black and yellow spider traveled from East Asia on shipping containers. Contrary to their looks, a recent study found that these spiders are actually big scaredy-cats. While other spiders freeze for only a few seconds when disturbed, Jorō spiders freeze for over an hour. This timidness has earned them the “shyest spider” title.
Virginia: Ticks
Oh tick! Virginia has sixteen different tick species. Luckily for Virginians, only three of these species tend to bite humans. These bloodsuckers prey on kids and pets and spread serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Despite being the size of a sesame seed, the invasive species known as the Asian longhorned tick has quickly made its way across Virginia yards and neighborhoods. True feminists, female Asian longhorn ticks don’t need a male to create a new population of 2,000 eggs.
West Virginia: Yellow jacket
They sting, they bite, and they’re all over the country roads of West Virginia. And no, we’re not talking about the state’s Yellow Jackets sports team. West Virginia ranks number one on Google Trends for yellow jacket searches. Yellow jackets are incredibly aggressive, can sting repeatedly, and like to nest in lawns and around houses. These bullies have also been known to sneak into soda cans and sting unsuspecting victims’ lips.
North Carolina: Formosan termite
The dense forests of North Carolina are filled with tree stumps and decaying logs that formosan termites thrive in. This “super termite” was first spotted in the US in South Carolina in 1957 and currently only lives in a few states on the southern east coast. Queens can produce over 2,000 eggs a day with colonies reaching over a million bugs in a 300 feet radius. They will consume anything from paper, wood, and crops to asphalt, plaster, and plastic. They are estimated to cost homeowners several tens of thousands of dollars in damages and control each year.
South Carolina: German cockroach
The German cockroach is the cockroach of all cockroaches. It is the most common cockroach in the US, and South Carolina ranks second for German cockroach searches online. These indestructible pests invade hospitals, houses, apartments, restaurants, and even aircrafts. They’ll eat human and pet food, books, leather, each other, and food residue off of sleeping humans’ faces. Oddly enough, German cockroaches need human civilization to survive. And we hate to say it, but the most common places they’re found are refrigerators, stoves, and bathrooms.
Northeast
Maine: Springtail
Springtails are known as the jumping bugs of Maine. Also called snowfleas, their swarms can completely blanket the snow-covered ground as they emerge for spring. Their special forked appendage allows them to jump around. They are known to collect in pools, houses, basements, and doorways. Maine’s position in the top 10 most humid states makes it the preferred environment for these damp-loving pests.
Vermont: Hornets
Does Vermont have a murder hornet that mercilessly kills entire hives of honeybees and feeds them to its young? Not yet. This invasive hornet also known as the Asian giant hornet is thankfully contained to Washington. But Vermont does have an invasive look-alike hornet called the European hornet. This hornet is twice the size of Vermont’s usual baldfaced hornet and is the only hornet known to be active at night. Sadly, the European hornet also preys on honey bees and is aggressive towards humans.
New York: Brown rats
Gross and dangerous, everybody thinks of rats when they think of New York. NYC is thought to be the first city brown rats infiltrated back during the American Revolution. Viral videos like the pizza rat and aggressive subway rat attacking innocent escalator users circulate the internet and establish rats as real New Yorkers. Jokes aside, rats cause billions of dollars in damages to health, infrastructure, and agriculture across America. The NYC rat population is now an estimated 2 million and spreads throughout 90% of the city.
Rhode Island: June bug
This June visitor frequents Rhode Island along with many other states. Also known as May bugs, June bugs love to clumsily fly into your window, porch, lawn, and face. Sometimes it seems like they don’t know how to move their big sleepy bodies after living underground for so long. Their little baby grubs can quickly turn your lawn and garden a sad yellow.
Massachusetts: Pantry moth
Massachusetts has the highest search volume for pantry moths. These household pests infest stored foods like rice, cereal, and other grains and make webs of larva. Females can lay up to 400 eggs in a single food source. And they don’t just live in your food, they leave exoskeletons, feces, eggs, and webs. Infestations may come from grocery stores or small cracks in food packaging.
Connecticut: Odorous house ant
The odorous house ant is a stinky and invasive ant that is very common in Connecticut. House owners beware, crushing this bug will release a strong odor. The smell is said to resemble a rotten coconut. As their name also suggests, odorous house ants invade houses in large numbers. While not harmful, they can contaminate your food and spread across your house.
New Hampshire: Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants are a major problem throughout the US, but they get searched for the most in New Hampshire. They have been named (along with termites) the number one structural pest in the state. There are four carpenter ant species in New Hampshire. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood. Rather, they dig holes in decaying wood like porches, stares, walls, doors, and beams. Colonies can survive for years, have a painful sting, and are particularly difficult to remove once established in a building.
Mid-Atlantic
Pennsylvania: Horse fly
What do horse flies, Pennsylvania, and July 4th have in common? They all shaped the Declaration of Independence. On July 4th 1776, congress gathered to discuss the final changes to the Declaration of Independence. However, the meeting was cut short because of a swarm of horse flies that invaded the room and started biting everyone. Thus, horse flies are to thank for the swift delivery of the Declaration of Independence. These pests’ bites are so fierce, even congress couldn’t bear to stay in a room with them.
Delaware: Daddy Long Legs
True or false: Daddy long legs are one of the most venomous spiders. False.
True: Daddy long legs are one of the most misunderstood spiders. Daddy long legs refers to harvestmen and cellar spiders. Harvestmen don’t make webs, have no fangs, and aren’t spiders. Cellar spiders are spiders, spin big wispy webs, and are common in Delaware houses. Lucky for homeowners, cellar spiders may hunt down the venomous black widow and brown recluse for you.
New Jersey: Pavement ants
Pavement ants are a common nuisance in all 50 states. However, New Jersey’s extremely high population density and urbanization is heaven for these pests. True to their name, pavement ants live in concrete slabs like your sidewalk and driveway. Their sweet tooth can also lead large colonies into your home. Colonies can have up to 10,000 worker ants. If you see massive swarms on the ground, it’s likely multiple colonies fighting over territory.
Maryland: Kissing bug
What pest lives in your bed, sneaks onto your face while you sleep, and drinks your blood? That would be the infamous kissing bug. Recently spotted throughout Maryland, these smoochers earned their name by crawling onto sleeping humans and biting them near the lips. Unfortunately, over 55% of kissing bugs are infected with a parasite that causes the potentially chronic Chagas disease. Even more unfortunate, their kiss isn’t the deadly part, the feces they deposit onto your face are what spread the parasite.
How to Protect Your Home From Rodents 12 Jun 2023, 10:56 am
A rodent infestation is more than just a nuisance, it can also present a serious health hazard. Rodents can transmit several diseases including leptospirosis, tularemia, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Take proactive measures to protect your home from rodents and keep your family safe.
Eliminate Entry Points
Image via Flickr by Sam Howzit
Rodents will use any small opening they can find to gain entry to your home. Install screens on chimneys, vents, and windows. Place sweeps along the bottom of doors. Carefully inspect your home for any holes or cracks, particularly those where pipes or cables enter the house. Seal these with caulk. Head to the roof and inspect it carefully for loose shingles or other entry points. Cap off the chimney whenever the fireplace is not in use.
If your home is made of brick or stone, the uneven surface will be easy for rodents to climb. Vertical pipes near the house are typically climbable as well. Paint pipes and exterior surfaces with a 12-inch band of high gloss paint at least three feet from the ground to prevent climbers.
Store Food Safely
Unprotected food can act as a lure for rodents. Store all food in airtight containers so rodents can’t nibble through the cardboard box to access the feast within. Never leave food sitting out on the counter or in the sink. Empty garbage cans regularly.
Watch for Standing Moisture
Any type of standing water will provide rodents with a helpful water source in your home. This moisture is a health hazard of its own, as it can breed mold and mildew. Watch for leaky pipes or clogged drains. Eliminate all potential sources of water for household pests.
Clean Up Your Landscaping
Trim shrubbery and tall grass away from the house so you can see the area around the foundation. This will help keep rodents away and ensure that you always have a good view of any potential problem areas. Trim tree branches back so they don’t hang over or near your home and remove any vines from the exterior of the house. These offer rodents a convenient ladder to get to your attic or upper stories. Keep wood piles at least 20 feet from the house, as rodents may use these as a safe harbor.
Contact a Professional
If you suspect a rodent infestation despite your efforts, it’s best to contact a professional. A knowledgeable exterminator can help you capture the rodents currently in residence and identify potential entry points, so you can prevent additional problems in the future. If you find rodent droppings or nesting material in your home, take care when cleaning these messes. Wear gloves and a face mask and practice wet cleaning methods so you don’t stir up airborne viruses.
Always watch for signs of a potential rodent infestation so you can act quickly to eliminate any problems that occur. Inspect your home seasonally for new holes, cracks, or other potential entry points and seal these promptly. This is particularly important in cool weather when you’ll find rodents are especially anxious to get inside.
How to Keep Scorpions Out of Your Yard 29 May 2023, 10:45 am
Scorpions strike fear into the hearts of many people around the world. These creatures are deadly hunters with a ferocious attitude and the muscle to back it up. Scorpions, like many other creatures, are beneficial to the environment by keeping the populations of other pests in check. They are also a prime food source for other animals in their natural habitats.
Scorpions have a venomous sting and can pose a threat to the well being of you, your family, and your pets. This makes them a danger when they intrude into your yard. Protecting your family, pets, and home from scorpions is possible when you learn their behavioral traits and what attracts them to an area. Learning how to keep scorpions out of your yard will provide you with peace of mind and a safe environment.
What Are Scorpions?
Image via Flickr by gailhampshire
Scorpions are classified as arachnids. They have a segmented body with claws, an erect segmented tail with a stinger at the end, eight legs, and multiple sets of eyes. They are formidable creatures and are hunters. In most cases, they aren’t deadly to humans, but children and the elderly may be more susceptible to the scorpion’s venomous sting. The typical reaction to a scorpion’s sting is localized swelling, numbness, and pain. In more severe cases, trouble breathing and vomiting can occur.
Why Are Scorpions in My Yard?
Scorpions move from one area to another in search of food sources. If you find scorpions encroaching on your property or even in your home, chances are your yard and house have an ample supply of prey such as crickets, roaches, and spiders. Scorpions are abundant where their prey is also abundant, so if you have noticed an increase of bugs in your yard, scorpions are sure to follow.
Signs of a scorpion infestation begin with sighting one. Daytime sightings are rare, but they do happen in cool shady areas of your yard. Scorpions are nocturnal hunters and are most active at night. During the day, they typically dig a scorpion hole or burrow that can be a meter in depth. These holes can be another sign of scorpion activity on your property. The opening to a scorpion hole or burrow is usually crescent or oval-shaped.
Scorpions that live in burrows are ambush predators that lay in wait for any potential prey to enter their nest. Most scorpions can be found hiding under rocks, logs, clutter, and boards on the ground. The bark scorpion, considered to be the most deadly in the United States, can be found resting on vertical surfaces, including trees.
If you feel you are battling against a scorpion infestation, a professional pest control agency will be ready and willing to give you a helping hand. A trained exterminator can correctly identify the pest, implement a plan of action to eradicate the threat, and put a preventive program into action to reduce the risk of future scorpion invasions.
How to Keep Scorpions Out of Your House
When you have scorpions in your yard, you are likely to have them in your house, as well. The best way to keep them out is to eliminate the bugs they are preying on. If you take care of all the other pests that may be appealing to scorpions, they won’t have a reason to be in your house and will move back outside to seek sustainable food sources.
Scorpions also need water and will invade your private space in search of water sources. Leaky faucets or pipes and other moisture issues in your home should be fixed to deter all manner of pests from seeking refuge inside. You will also need to find any areas of your foundation that have cracks, crevices, or holes where scorpions can find their way inside and seal them all off.
How to Get Rid of Scorpions Naturally
The use of essential oils has been said to keep scorpions away. The different oils that are suggested to be used as a scorpion deterrent are cinnamon, lavender, cedar, and peppermint. Diluting these in a carrier oil or small amounts of water will allow you to make sprays that can be applied in scorpion trouble areas. These sprays can also be used around baseboards, doorways, windowsills, and around the foundations of your house.
A proven method for getting rid of scorpions naturally is to use small, moistened burlap bags. These open bags should be placed in areas within your home and on your property where scorpions have been observed. After leaving the burlap bags in place overnight, you can cautiously check underneath and inside the bags for scorpions and then dispose of the scorpion and reuse the burlap bag. This can be repeated until there are no more signs of scorpion activity.
Scorpion Prevention
It is often overstated, but prevention is the best plan for keeping pests such as scorpions out of your yard. Taking preventive measures is essential for creating a safe environment for your family and pets to enjoy. A few steps you can take to make your yard less appealing to scorpions and other pests are as follows:
- Landscaping trees and bushes need to be maintained and trimmed away from the side of your house. Scorpions can use overgrown foliage as bridges to reach windows and otherwise inaccessible entryways into your home. The excess shade created by such overgrowth can provide the ideal place for scorpions to hide out during the day.
- Keep your grass and other types of ground covering vegetation trimmed and clear of clutter or ground covering debris. This will reduce the number of places where scorpions can take refuge.
- Only keep the essential materials in your yard and limit your use of decorative items such as rocks. Promptly remove brush, woodpiles, lawn equipment, and any other type of ground covering clutter. Make your yard as unappealing as you can for scorpions by eliminating their ability to hide during the day.
Scorpions can be a significant problem when they have intruded onto your property. They pose a health risk to your children, older family members, and your pets. Taking swift and appropriate actions to get rid of scorpions and keep them out of your house and yard will help to protect your loved ones. Resources such as Bulwark Exterminating have the information you need to keep your yard pest-free.