Summer is here and so are more bugs around the house. One of the main nuisances is also one of the smallest...ANTS! The three most common ants you will find in the upstate of South Carolina are sugar ants, carpenter ants and fire ants.
Let’s start with sugar ants-
The good news about sugar ants is that they don't bite or sting like other ants. The bad news is, they invade your home! They are usually found in your kitchen or bathroom. They do not do any damage, but they are hard to get rid of. Sugar ants are smaller than other ants, which makes it easier for them to get into places most other ants can't. Their name can be deceiving because they don't only want sugar, most of the time they will go to any food they can get. Sugar ants, although they don’t bite, are still annoying. And if you have an infestation the best thing to do is call a professional because they can be very hard to get rid of.
Now, on to carpenter ants-
Carpenter ants are sometimes compared to termites because they both chew through wood. The difference is that termites eat the wood and carpenter ants do not. Carpenter ants are destructive and will burrow through wood to create tunnels and nests. These pests prefer damp, hollow wood but won’t hesitate to burrow through dry wood either. If their nests are disturbed, carpenter ants won’t hesitate to defend themselves. Because of their large size, the bites can be quite painful. It’s not easy to get rid of carpenter ants completely. One queen can live up to 25 years!
Lastly, fire ants-
Fire ants range in color from red-brown to black, and grow up to 1/4 inch in length. They build nests or mounds about 1 foot high, usually in grassy areas like lawns and pastures. Unlike most anthills, fire ant nests don’t have just one entrance. The ants crawl all over the hill.
Fire ants are very aggressive when their nest is disturbed. Usually, whatever causes one ant to bite and sting triggers the other ants to sting to the same response. Each fire ant can sting several times. The best way to avoid fire ant stings is to stay away from fire ants. If you see a nest, resist the temptation to disturb it. Fire ant colonies are hard to destroy and many times it takes a professional to get them taken care of.
Please let us know if we can be of any service this summer with ants in and around your home!