With spring in full bloom and summer coming back around soon, pest concerns would inevitably arise for the residents of Kansas & Missouri. One pest that no one wants to see enter the home is the dreaded ant. Ants never invade in groups of twos and threes. Instead, a true infestation can leave a homeowner facing hundreds in the home.
With over 700 types of ant species possible in the United States alone, it’s easy to ask if any of those ants you see are dangerous. In truth, most ants are simply a nuisance. However, some types of ants can be considered a danger to either you or your property. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to know what type of ant invaded your Kansas & Missouri home.
Only A Nuisance
As mentioned, most species of ant are considered nuisance pests only. However, even though they don’t present a direct threat, that doesn’t mean they can’t contaminate your food or immediate surroundings. The following ants are ones you may come across in your Kansas & Missouri home as the months continue to get warmer:
- Argentine Ant: While primarily found in the southeastern United States, they thrive in any wet environment near a food source. These ants are dark brown and roughly a ¼ inch in size. They are known for their ability to contaminate food and emit a musty odor when crushed.
- Crazy Ants: This ant is called "crazy" because of its erratic movements. This aptly named ant can adapt to both dry and moist habitats. They tend to enter close to autumn or after rainfall when their primary food source becomes scarce. Crazy ants range in color from dark brown to black with a gray sheen. The average size is about 1/16 of an inch.
- Odorous House Ant: This species is dark brown to black. They’re roughly 1/8 of an inch in size. While they don’t present a health threat, they are known to contaminate food sources and can easily be identified by the rotten coconut smell they leave behind when crushed.
- Pavement Ants: Dark brown to black, these ants are found throughout the country and get their name from their desire to nest in the cracks of pavement. As such, they infest the homes by entering through holes in the concrete. Like the other ants, this one can easily contaminate food but presents no other immediate threat.
Harmful Or Destructive
While they’re not nearly as common, some species of ants go beyond being a nuisance. The ones residents of Kansas & Missouri be concerned about include:
- Carpenter Ant: This ant is traditionally reddish-black and reaches sizes of about 5/8 an inch. Where the real threat comes in with this type of ant is their habit of tunneling through wood to build their nests. Left unchecked, this can result in significant and costly property damage. This damage is only mitigated by the number of nests present and how long they’ve been active.
- Red Imported Fire Ant: These ants are found mostly in the south but have made it as far north as Maryland. Where Carpenter ants harm your property, this ant harms you. When provoked, they’ll sting people, which will leave behind a welt with a white pustule. In most cases, this sting is mild with no symptoms. However, some people are allergic to this sting and will need treatment.
Complete Ant Control With Augustine Exterminators, INC
Our story began in 1966 as a local family-owned and operated pest control company for over three generations. We’ve only continued to grow over the years, which is why our team proudly helps Kansas & Missouri homeowners with any common pest, including ants. We don’t take your satisfaction for granted, which is why we only stop when the results match or exceed your expectations.
Ready to explore your ant control options? Then give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional ant control services or fill out our online form to schedule your free inspection.