Ants are a problem that almost everyone has dealt with at one point or another. These small insects can get into your home, enter your kitchen or pantry, and feed on your food. They also look for water and can sometimes establish a colony in or around a house. Keeping them out of your home is important. You should call a Broken Arrow Exterminator if you think you’re having an issue.
Let’s take a good look at ants and how they operate. Ants are social insects that live together in colonies and divide their work among different castes. Oklahoma State University Extension explains that ant colonies have divisions of labor that can include queens, males, workers, and larger workers or soldiers.
The reproductive caste is responsible for maintaining the population of the colony. The queen lays eggs, and depending on the species, a colony may have one or more queens. Winged reproductive ants can leave an established colony, mate, and help begin new colonies.
Some ant species also have larger workers commonly called soldiers or majors. These ants may help defend the colony and can have enlarged heads and powerful mandibles. The exact castes and defensive mechanisms vary considerably among ant species, so not every colony is organized in exactly the same way.
The worker caste performs many of the day-to-day tasks necessary to support the colony. Workers forage for food, care for larvae, maintain the nest, remove waste, and perform other jobs. In the ant species people commonly encounter, workers are female and generally do not reproduce.
Ants will often walk in a line. You can see them along the base of a house or moving across pavement. Ants can communicate with chemical signals called pheromones, and many species use trail pheromones to help workers follow routes between the colony and food. U.S. Forest Service research documents trail pheromone and trail-following behavior in ants.
When ants find food, workers can reinforce a useful trail as they travel between the food source and the colony. Routes that are used more frequently can receive more chemical reinforcement, helping other workers follow successful paths. It is an efficient communication system that helps a colony forage for food.
Ants inside a home may be looking for food or moisture, and some species can nest in structures. Sanitation, removing food sources, exclusion, and properly placed ant baits can all be part of an ant-control program. If you’re having a problem with ants or other pests, it’s time to call a good Broken Arrow Exterminator. TermMax Pest Control can help identify the problem and determine the appropriate treatment. Contact TermMax Pest Control today if you think you’re having an ant problem.
