Residential Routine Pest Control Maintenance

Got Ants? Don't Get Caught Up In The Myths!

Got ants in the house? It's no surprise—these hard-working pests can show up in droves, and some species enjoy human dwellings just as much as humans. If you expect to get rid of an ant problem, it is best to get the myths out of the way and get in touch with an ant control agent for help. 

Myth: An ant is an ant; they're all pretty much the same. 

Fact: More than 10,000 ant species have been identified across the planet.

You may only see one basic type of ant in your neighborhood, but the species of ants that can invade your home can vary depending on what part of the world you live in. One ant known as the crazy ant, for instance, is primarily found in Florida. This is one reason why it is important to work with an ant control service when you have ants; the method to actually get rid of these little pests can vary depending on the specific type of ants you have. And it can be extremely difficult to discern between some species. 

Myth: Ants may be a nuisance, but they are relatively harmless. 

Fact: Some ants bite, some ants sting, and some ants cause a lot of problems. 

The myth may be true of some types of ants, such as the tiny little sugar ants (commonly referred to as pissants) that invade during certain times of the year. However, there are actually some ant varieties that do pose a threat to humans and can cause a lot of damage to your property. Argentine ants, for example, can sting when they feel threatened, and carpenter ants do sting and can cause structural damage in some cases. 

Myth: You can usually get rid of ants just by setting traps. 

Fact: Ant traps can help, but ants are wiser than most people know. 

Ants are actually one of the few types of bugs that are considered to be relatively intelligent in spite of their size. Some types of ants have actually been used in scientific research known as myrmecology because of this fact. Some researchers have even looked at ants and their effective methodologies of existing in harmony in an effort to solve human social problems. The colony intelligence of ants as a group can make them really hard to get rid of with just traps alone. The moment a few ants realize their fellow dwellers are going into a trap and not making it out, most of the colony will steer clear of them. Ant control services often have to use a number of tactics to fully eradicate a severe ant problem.