Pests can be a big problem for many homeowners. Ants are one of the most common pests that we deal with. These small insects can get into your house and find their way into your kitchen. Often, people find them crawling across countertops and food surfaces. You don’t want them in your home. Contacting a good Broken Arrow Pest Control company can help you get rid of these insects.

Let’s take a good look at ants and how they work in your home. Most ant species normally nest outdoors. Their workers forage for food and can find their way inside a house. If they find a crumb on a countertop or food left on a dirty dish, they can use these as food sources and continue returning to the area. Sanitation is extremely important, but even a very clean house can have a missed crumb or drop of food.

One species that can become established in and around structures is the odorous house ant. The odorous house ant gets its name from the distinctive odor released when it is crushed, which is often compared to a rotten or coconut-like smell. Oklahoma State University Extension provides information about common ants, their identification, nesting habits, and management.

Odorous house ants can nest in protected spaces such as wall voids and areas around cabinets, as well as in many outdoor locations. Workers leave the nest to forage for food and return to the colony.

Odorous house ants can have multiple queens and can spread through a process commonly called budding. In budding, one or more queens leave an established colony with a group of workers and establish another nest. An ordinary worker does not become a queen simply because it is separated from the original colony. This distinction is important when understanding how these ants spread.

Treatment methods also matter. Simply spraying the ants you see may kill exposed workers without eliminating the colony, and some ant problems can be made more difficult when colonies are disturbed or treatment does not reach the nest. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends integrated pest management practices that emphasize prevention, sanitation, identification, and targeted pest-control methods.

That’s why it’s important to use the correct treatment for the particular ant species. A good Broken Arrow Pest Control company can identify the ants, locate likely nesting and foraging areas, and choose an appropriate control method. TermMax Pest Control can help if you’re having a problem with ants. Contact us today.