There are nearly 25 known ants in Georgia homes. It is important to identify the ant species before beginning any eradication efforts properly. This will help ensure that the correct steps are taken and that the ants are eliminated quickly and effectively.
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What are the most common species of ants in Georgia?
As you keep reading this article, you will learn more about the different ant species that are popularly found in Georgia. Hopefully, this knowledge will help you properly identify the ants that are infesting your home, and you will be able to take action against them.
Acrobat ants
Acrobat ants are a common ant species found in Georgia. This species of ant are scavengers that feed on other insects outdoors. They are often mistaken for carpenter ants but can be distinguished by their black head and thorax, and light-colored abdomen.
Why are they called acrobat ants?
Acrobat ants get their name from their distinctive habit of holding their abdomen over their head/body as they run when disturbed. They are found throughout Georgia and can be identified by their heart-shaped abdomen.
Habitat of acrobat ants
Acrobat ants live in colonies that can number up to 500,000. These ants are very common in Georgia and can be found in soil, leaf piles, or wood that is not solid or sound.
What are the dangers of having acrobat ants in your home?
Acrobat ants are notorious for their ability to strip insulation from wires, which can create a fire hazard. Further, these ants will also end up contaminating your food!
Argentine ants
Argentine ants are a major household and garden pest in Georgia. They can be identified by their black body and redhead. They are very small, measuring only about 2 mm long.
These ants nest outdoors in warm weather and indoors during the winter. They are known for their ability to form huge colonies that can number in the millions.
Argentine ants, also commonly known as sugar ants, are one of the most stubborn and common home-infesting pests.
These tiny creatures can enter a structure through even the tiniest crack and quickly establish colonies that can number in the tens of thousands. Once they’re established, they can be very difficult to get rid of.
What is the habitat of argentine ants?
Argentine ants are found in many different habitats, but they prefer to nest under sunbaked soil.
This allows them to warm their nests, which is important since they do not produce a lot of heat internally. They may even clean the area around their nests of any vegetation to ensure they have a sunny spot.
Drip irrigation lines are the perfect source of water for argentine ants and can also serve as superhighways for them to form new colonies.
Argentine ants have been found in large numbers near drip emitters, where they congregate to drink and travel along with the wet tubing to other parts of the landscape.
They also nest in the ground, with cracks in concrete walls and at the base of trees. When the weather becomes too dry or wet, they invade homes through cracks and crevices. Argentine ants are commonly found near water pipes, sinks, and potted plants.
What threat does an Argentine ant population pose?
Argentine ants are a threat to the well-being of homeowners because they form colonies quickly and can cause massive damage.
The populations of Argentine ants, which are native to South America, can invade homes and businesses in search of food or water. Once they’ve infiltrated an area, they can be difficult to get rid of.
Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants are among the most common types of ants in Georgia. They are wood-destroying insects that can cause buildings to collapse if they are not treated. Carpenter ants live in colonies and can be very destructive.
If you are seeing evidence of an ant infestation around your home, there is a good chance the ants are carpenter ants. Signs of an infestation include excavations in wood as well as piles of sawdust near entry points.
What is the habitat of the carpenter ant?
Carpenter ants live in moist wood, preferring to build their nests in softwoods like pine and fir. They can also be found in hardwoods like oak and maple, but they are not as common.
But carpenter ants can infest a building in a number of ways. They can travel through cracks in the foundation or by climbing up the inside of plumbing and electrical openings.
Once they are inside, they will establish their colony and begin to damage the structure of the building. They often nest in damp, rotting wood, so they can be found near trees, stumps, and logs.
What is the threat that carpenter ants pose?
Carpenter ants are not typically considered dangerous, but they can do a lot of damage to homes and buildings. They are able to weaken the structural integrity of a building over time, and their populations can reach very high numbers.
When this happens, they will start to form satellite nests away from the original colony, making them even more difficult to get rid of.
Fire ants
Fire ants are a common ant species found in Georgia. They get their name from the painful sting they can deliver with their abdomen. The stinger is visually obvious under close examination, so be careful if you’re handling an ant nest!
Fire ants are notorious for their aggressive behavior. When a fire ant mound is disturbed, the workers will swarm to the surface and sting any nearby person or animal. The stings can be quite painful and can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
What is the habitat of fire ants?
Fire ants are known to be native to South America, but they have been introduced in many other parts of the world. They prefer to nest near moist areas, such as woodlands and near rivers.
Fire ants build mounds by burrowing into the soil, and their nests can be identified by these mounds.
Fire ants live in colonies with multiple queens, but smaller nests typically only have a single queen. As they reproduce rapidly, they can spread throughout a lawn or open area very quickly.
What is the threat that fire ants pose?
Fire ants are a threat to humans because they sting and cause painful, raised welts. The venom from their sting can also cause anaphylactic shock in some people.
They can also disturb ecosystems and the animals that eat native ant species. In the US alone, $5 billion is spent on fire ant treatments every year.
Odorous house ants
Odorous house ants are an extremely common ant species in Georgia. They are small, black, and have a strong smell when crushed.
In fact, odorous house ants get their name from the foul smell they produce when crushed. These ants form colonies easily and can become a nuisance if they’re not dealt with quickly.
They forage for food at night and during the day, preferring food rich in sweets and proteins.
What is the habitat of odorous house ants?
Odorous house ants are found in warm, humid environments such as kitchens. They are attracted to food and water and can be difficult to get rid of.
Odorous house ants are attracted to moisture, so they generally prefer areas with it, such as wall voids near water pipes, heaters, and leaking fixtures.
Odorous house ants can also be found outdoors, where they nest in the soil. They are also known to build their nests in rotten wood, under stones, and around debris.
What threat do odorous house ants pose?
Odorous house ants can pose a threat to homes and businesses because they can spread quickly, and their scent trails help them find food. They are also known to damage electrical wiring, which can be costly to repair.
Pavement ants
Pavement ants are a common ant species found throughout the United States. They are particularly common in Georgia, where they can be found in both urban and rural areas.
This ant species gets its name because they often build their nests under pavement and other man-made structures. This species of ant typically establishes new colonies after mating flights in June and July.
When pavement ants invade a home, they can be attracted to both greasy and sweet foods. They are often found in bathrooms and kitchens, where crumbs or spills may provide an easy food source.
What is the habitat of pavement ants?
Pavement ants are found in many parts of the world. They are most often located under or near sidewalks, patios, and driveways because that is where they can find moisture and food.
The nests of pavement ants are generally located at ground level in the open or under stones and pavement, masonry or wood. The workers in a colony use pipes or wires to move upward when they need to get to the food or when the nest needs to be relocated.
In the commercial world, pavement ants can become an issue as they are often found in buildings. Sometimes, alates or reproductives will emerge from openings in walls above false ceilings and then drop into the rooms below.
Because pavement ants prefer to remain outside in the summer, they are more likely to be found in homes near a heat source like a radiator or heating duct in the winter.
What is the threat that pavement ants pose?
Pavement ants are a nuisance pest that can cause unsightly piles of sand on driveways, patios, sidewalks, or basements. They nest outdoors in the soil under objects such as stones, bricks, boards, and flowerpots.
Although they can bite and do have a stinger, pavement ants rarely bite humans. These ants do not typically pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food as they forage. When nests aren’t treated in time, pavement ants will continue to spread into new populations.
Pharaoh ants
Pharaoh ants are a small and invasive ant species in Georgia. Their long legs and reddish-brown coloring easily identify them. Pharaoh ants travel in set trails and will form colonies when disturbed.
They are attracted to sweets, so they may be found around food areas. They can be difficult to get rid of, so it is important to call a pest control professional if you notice an infestation.
What is the habitat of pharaoh ants?
Pharaoh ants thrive in warm, moist environments and can be found in shaded areas or under debris. They are very small ants (about 1/16 inch long) and are light brown to yellow in color.
They use electrical wires and plumbing pipes to travel quickly throughout a structure, looking for food or moisture. Pharaoh ants are especially attracted to pet food, so it is important to keep pet food in sealed containers.
What threat do pharaoh ants pose?
Pharaoh ants have been proved to spread a number of pathogens, including but not limited to, Salmonella, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus. They can be dangerous in hospitals due to their ability to transmit disease organisms.
Pharaoh ants also have a high resistance to most conventional household pest control treatments and are able to establish large colonies throughout a home or building.
Tawny crazy ants
Tawny crazy ants, also known as Raspberry crazy ants, are a new type of ant that was first introduced to the public in Texas in 2002. They have since spread to other states, including Georgia.
They are called “crazy” ants because they are very active and move around quickly. They can be distinguished from other types of ants by their reddish-brown coloring and long antennae. Scientists actually believe they may be displacing some fire ants.
What is the habitat of tawny crazy ants?
Tawny crazy ants live in colonies and build their nests near moisture. This can be in the form of standing water, such as a puddle or a slow-moving stream, or near plant life that provides high levels of humidity.
In addition, tawny crazy ants are known to forage indoors and prey on live animals as well as scavenge from dead animals. They also invade electrical equipment, causing short-circuits and power outages.
What threat do tawny crazy ants pose?
Tawny crazy ants are a threat to both people and property. They can damage electrical equipment, invade homes, and contaminate food. They scavenge for food, which can lead them into contact with humans and pets. That said, their bite is mild and quickly dissipates pain.
Conclusion
Ants are in abundance in Georgia. Therefore, it is only fair that your knowledge about them is also abundant! As you can see, some of these ants are particularly undesirable in your house.
Therefore, whenever you spot the signs of an ant infestation, be sure to take control measures to get rid of them!
