If you have ants in your home, you’re probably looking for a way to remove them. But do you know what kind of ants you have? The tiny ants you see scurrying about with crumbs of food are commonly known as sugar ants. They’re small, black, or brown, and may be prevalent on your counters or in your cabinets. You may also find them
in your sink.
In New Jersey, there are two common types of sugar ants: Pavement Ants and Odorous House Ants. But what are sugar ants, and what’s the difference between the two?
For starters, Pavement Ants are small and black and will eat just about anything. As such, they can quickly contaminate your food. Odorous Ants aren’t a threat to the public, but they can also contaminate food. They earned their name because they smell like rotten coconut.
Any type of ant infestation warrants a professional investigation. Your home might need some type of repairs, the ants an indicator of a larger issue.
A professional can inspect your home and help you remove ants from your property before they become an infestation.
What Are Sugar Ants Attracted To?
If you have sugar ants in your home, you’re probably wondering “What are sugar ants attracted to?” As their name suggests, sugar ants look for sugary food items. This could be food or drink.
You should always cover food that’s left out and immediately wipe spills
from counters and your floors. You may find sugar ants in your sink if you let dishes sit, so always wash them before they attract sugar ants to your kitchen.
What Do Sugar Ants Look Like?
There is more than one type of sugar ant, so their appearance varies. This means some are larger than others. However, they’re commonly between one and 13 millimeters.
They’re reddish-brown, brown, or black, but could be white or yellow. Their waists are small and they have large heads. Their heads are commonly black, and you’ll notice their middle is a rust color.
How to Prevent Ants
Although your best course of action is to contact a professional, you can take steps for sugar ant prevention. These natural repellents should be placed wherever you spotted sugar ants.
For starters, you might place lemon juice in areas where they hang out. Lemon juice has a strong smell and has the potential to send them packing. Sugar ants also hate the way plastic smells, so put Tupperware containers or other plastic containers around parts of your home that they tend to gravitate to.
Get Rid of Sugar Ants Today
So what are
sugar ants and how do you know if you have them in your home? Sugar ants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the fact remains the same — they can contaminate your food and turn your kitchen into their own personal buffet. They’re not particular about what they eat and should be removed before they create a larger issue.
Sugar ants can chew through cardboard, paper, and thin containers until they access the contents within. They’re also food for other insects, and draw in centipedes and spiders, to name a few.
The best way you can protect your home is with professional pest removal. Serene Property Services can assess your home and inspect for potential entry points. We’ll then create a custom plan to help you remove unwanted pests. If you’re in Sussex County, NJ, or Warwick, NY,
contact us today for an estimate.
