What Are Sugar Ants?
Truthfully, the name “sugar ants” is used to describe any small ant that is particularly fond of sugars and sweet things. There is an actual sugar ant species, called the banded sugar ant, but they're usually only found in Australia. In Oklahoma, though, there are five commonly found pesky ants that fall under the “sugar ant” description:
- Argentine Ants – 1/8 of an inch, light to dark brown
- Pharaoh Ants – 1/16 of an inch, light yellow to red with dark brown on their abdomens
- Odorous House Ants – 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, dark brown to black
- Carpenter Ants – 3/8 to ½ of an inch, can be red, black, or a mixture of the two
- Pavement Ants – 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, dark brown to black
Some ants under the common name “sugar ants” are mostly harmless to have as pests, who are either too docile to attack or cause minimal to no damage to the residence. There are a few, however, that can create some serious problems. Carpenter ants cause structural damage to the home, and pharaoh and pavement ants can get pretty aggressive while defending their anthills. Pharaoh ants are especially harmful, as they're known to carry and transmit harmful pathogens as well.
Why Are Sugar Ants Invading My Oklahoma City Home?
As their adopted name aptly implies, sugar ants are especially attracted to sweet treats. Whenever there's a sugar ant infestation, it usually means there are sugary morsels that are easily accessible for foragers to find. Ants will also retreat indoors during inclement weather, such as particularly rainy or cold seasons, but more often than not it's because they've discovered the perfect sustenance for their hive.
How Can I Keep Sugar Ants From Infesting My Oklahoma City Home?
Ants can be particularly difficult to keep outside, simply because of their minuscule size. Still, there are some preventative measures you can take to ensure they stay outside, where they can be most beneficial to the environment:
- Clean all food prep areas after making food, and immediately clean up food spills after they happen
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum high-traffic areas to keep crumbs off the floor
- Seal up any cracks and holes in the siding and foundation of the home
- Fill in gaps around outdoor-leading pipes and electrical wires
- Cover any exposed wood on the outside of the home
- Repair any leaky pipes; ants need a source of moisture as well
How To Get Rid Of Sugar Ants In Your Oklahoma City Home
You can never be too careful when it comes to taking care of ant infestations in your Oklahoma City home. While some may only be nuisance infestations, they can still cause quite a problem for your pantry. Trying to get rid of them on your own may seem easy, but that's simply not the case. Store-bought pesticides often contain harmful chemicals that could make your family and pets sick, and only eradicating part of the colony could scare the rest into branching out and creating satellite colonies. When It comes to getting rid of sugar ants, give the professionals a call.
Our pest control experts at Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma know how much you value the feeling of safety and comfort in your own home, and we're dedicated to restoring your peace of mind. We use the highest quality pest control products in all of our treatments, and we're confident that we can provide you with total satisfaction. Get in contact with us today to start discussing your home and commercial pest control options.
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