Small Ants and their Control
There are more than 12,000 species of small ants, but only a few are common pests in Georgia.
Argentine ants are among the most common ants in Georgia. They are dull brown in color, and workers average about 1/8" in length. They are primarily sugar and plant feeders, and are significant agricultural and garden pests because they tend to and protect destructive insects like aphids and scale insects in order to feed on the honeydew that they produce.
Acrobat ants raise their abdomens up in the air when they are disturbed, making them look like they're doing handstands. That's where they get their name. Acrobats are yellow to dark brown in color, and workers average a bit over 1/8" in length. They feed on a variety of foods including honeydew, plant juices, and occasionally other insects. They're also able to emit a bad odor when they're threatened.
Odorous house ants average about 1/8" in length and are dark brown in color. They are omnivorous, feeding on sweets as well as dead animals and insects. They're named for the unpleasant smell they emit when crushed, which many people say smells like rotten coconut.
Crazy ants are named for their erratic, rapid movements. They're about 1/8" in length and grayish black in color, with long, coarse hairs covering most of their bodies. They usually nest outside in rotten wood, tree stumps, under rocks or other objects, or in planters. Occasionally they'll also nest indoors in warm, damp areas such as wall voids in kitchens and bathrooms.
Little black ants are, well, little. Workers average about 1/16" in length. They range in color from dark brown to jet black. They are omnivorous and will eat meat, sweets, vegetables, fruits, or pretty much any other food they come across. Keeping your home meticulously clean and free of food scraps is vital to effective little black ant control.
Pavement ants are named for the parallel line markings on their head, which look vaguely like the lines on a highway. They also are commonly seen on sidewalks and other exterior concrete and paved areas, but so are many other ant species, leading to frequent misidentification of other ant species as pavement ants.
Pharaoh ants are tiny ants, averaging 1/16" in length. They're pale yellow to reddish yellow in color, with black markings on their abdomens. They commonly nest indoors, especially in wall voids, especially those through which heat or hot water pipes run. They also tend to travel through buildings inside electrical conduits, pipe insulation, and other hidden pathways. Their secretive habits make Pharaoh ants particularly difficult to control.
Rid-A-Critter provides ant control for these and all other species of pest ants in Georgia. Our service area includes Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Macon, Roswell, Columbus and all of North-Central Georgia. Please call us to schedule an appointment with one of our pest control specialists.
Rid-A-Critter
Atlanta: 770-258-8568
Athens: 706-354-4868
Macon: 478-743-9003
Columbus: 706-653-4005