If you are having issues with ants or any other insects then it’s time to give a reputable Tulsa exterminator a call. Ants are most active during the spring, summer and fall months. But that doesn’t mean that they’re not a problem during the winter months. While outdoor ants remain dormant underground, they are still active and busy. And of course, indoor ants are still completely active, working to build a colony and feed their young. In this article, let’s take a good hard look at ants, their lifecycle of what you and your Tulsa exterminator can do to eliminate these insects from your home or business.
EUSOCIAL ANTS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
Ants are a eusocial insects. This means that they live in a colony with a large number of individuals. Everyone in the colony works to the betterment of the colony, and are all part of a caste system. There are three casts in the ant caste system. The first is the reproductive, then is the soldier, and finally the worker ants. All three of these castes will work together for the betterment of the colony. In many cases the individual will give their lives for the sake of the colony, because the colony is most important to these insects.
The first caste is a reproductive caste. At the head of this caste is the queen. Her job is to lay all the eggs to produce the massive number of population in order to continue the colony and keep it healthy and thriving. She will lay eggs 24 hours a day when she starts the reproductive part of her lifecycle until the day she dies. Contact your Tulsa exterminator for more information on ants.
SWARMING ANTS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
In addition to this, there are often reproductives in the ant colony. These others will depend upon the type of ants, but are still often present. Some ant species have multiple queens in their hive. Some ant colonies use swarmers in order to reproduce their colony. These are other reproductive’s that have wings. They will search for a mate from another colony, by flying out and swarming in the spring and summer air. Once they find a mate, they will pair up and create a new colony.
The second caste in the system are the soldiers. Soldiers often have larger heads, large mandibles, or other kinds of defense mechanisms, such as poisonous glands, or sticky substances. These insects accept the task of protecting the colony. They will defend it with their life if necessary. In many cases ants can be predators. When this happens, these ants will use their soldier ants to go and fight battles against other ant colonies in an attempt to steal food or their young. Worker ants are the most numerous ants in the ant colony. These little guys are tasked with all the menial jobs that the colony needs to have done in its day-to-day life. From foraging for food, to collecting the food, to building the nest, to taking out the trash and many other tasks. These are the busiest insects in the colony. Call your Tulsa exterminator today.
ANT TYPES AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
There are many different kinds of ants that we deal with on a regular basis. In Oklahoma, we have the odorous house ant. This is the most predominant indoor ant that we find. It continues to thrive even in the winter months because of the heat of our homes. These ants will build a colony somewhere hidden and then you’ll see them walking around your kitchen counters or in your pantries. They’re after food and water for their young. Because of the way that they multiply their colony, they are uniquely difficult in eliminating from your home.
Odorous house ants multiply their colony using a process known as splintering. The queen emits a pheromone that comes in contact with all of her workers. A pheromone is a smellable hormone that communicates things between ants. This pheromone tells all the worker ants, who are all female, to remain sterile. As the ants come and go, they’re constantly in contact with this pheromone. If a group of worker ants is for some reason, separated from the colony and can’t get back, they lose access to the pheromone. The first female to become reproductive, becomes the new queen. The workers that are with this queen will support her and create a brand new colony based on her as queen. Your Tulsa exterminator can get rid of these pests.
SPLINTERING ANTS AND TULSA EXTERMINATOR
Splintering is a significant pest control issue for your Tulsa exterminator because it happens often in our homes with odorous house ants. If you go to the hardware store and you buy a can of over-the-counter pesticide, it is almost certain to be a repellent spray. Repellent pesticides are pesticides that can be sensed by the insect. When the insect senses these pesticides, they will flee. If you spray enough of this pesticide, it’s often that you can separate a group of workers from their original colony. This, through the process of splintering, will create a brand new colony in your home. When this happens you now created two colonies doubling your problem. That’s why when you find yourself in the situation with ants, it’s very important that you contact your Tulsa exterminator to help you to take care of the issue.
If you’re having issues with ants or any other pest, it’s time to call a Tulsa exterminator that can help. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with ants or any other kinds of pest. We service agree to Tulsa area including Owasso, Turley, Jenks, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Prattville, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa, and much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!