During springtime, sugar ants will begin their home invasion, foraging for food and water. While these tiny little ants are not harmful to humans, they are a nuisance and can get out of hand if the colony gets too big. Sugar ants are common in Canada, and most people refer to them as small ants attracted to sugary stuff. The sugar antis also known as Camponotus consobrinus. It measures between 2 and 15 mm. The winged sugar ant male with royal blood is black while the female workers have orange colored bodies. It is best to contact professional ant exterminator Toronto in the Greater Toronto Area to declare your home ant-free as soon as possible!
Sugar ants are always after sugary stuff, and the reason they got whiff of your kitchen goodies might be due to the following.
- Plants that produce nectar outdoors attract sugar ants. If the plants are in your garden, and near your house, sugar ants might venture out searching for food only to stumble at your loot.
- Sugar ants come from outdoors. They are equipped with odor receptors that are four times more sensitive to odors than other insects. Sugar ants have the capability of following the scent of food through crevices, cracks, holes, vents and any opening in your home.
- Sugar ants aren’t completely content to living outdoors, in case they land an opportunity to find and consumer sweets inside your home, it will result in an invasion, that poses a bothersome situation for property owners. Sugar ants can also build nests inside your home. Their nests compared to other ants are situated in undisturbed locations like basements or inside walls.
Can sugar ants damage my house?
Sugar ants are considered harmless. Swarms of sugar ants can be a nuisance, and especially when they locate a reliable source of food inside your home. While they will not cause any structural damage to your house, sugar ants will gnaw through paper, thin plastic or even cardboard to get through to their contents.
They also pose a health risk contaminating food and water as they forage for food in your house. Sugar ants attract a host of other pests including spiders and centipedes into your home.
Sugar ants are mild-mannered insects; they don’t sting. When defending their nest, they will bite using their upper mouthparts to steer of invaders. These bites are not painful compared to other ants; they could form an allergic reaction if an individual is highly allergic.
Signs of sugar ant infestation
When pests infest your kitchen, they go for the sugary stuff such as fruits and sweets. In case you suspect you have a sugar ant infestation, first check through your food containers and pantry. Sugar ants will invade your kitchen if you have spills, food traces, and stains.
Worker sugar ants are most visible in the evening, following marked trails foraging for food, returning to their nests at dawn. Due to this reason, it can be very difficult to locate a sugar ant nest; they are mostly active at night. When these pests build their nests in soil, you can easily recognize it by large mounds that surround colony entrances.
Prevention
Sugar ants are most prevent during March and September. You could use the rest of the time to create countermeasures to prevent them from invading your kitchen.
Locate damp areas. Like their close relative the carpenter ant, sugar ants prefer damp areas in your home such as the bathroom, kitchen sinks, and garbage disposals. Make sure to wipe excess water with dry clothing, fix any leakages in your plumbing system to prevent these critters from making a nest. Regularly clean your sink and keep it dry.
Clean your surfaces after meals. Sugar ants have a great sense of smell. Leaving your kitchen untidy will attract them through the night as you sleep. Vacuum or sweep your house once a night during the summer season to get rid of any pheromones trails that might be left to attract other animals.
Regularly take out your trash— Leftovers attractants as well as other insects. If your trash bags have holes, there is no doubt an ant will get access. Double bag your trash if possible, and store it in a garbage bin with a lid. Make sure you take out your garbage regularly.
Check for holes in your kitchen. The only way sugar ants can successfully get into your home at night is through cracks and holes in your home. Perform a thorough inspection and seal off any cracks that could be given access to sugar ants.
In case you have a sugar ant infestation, and you are not sure how to get rid of them, contact your local ant control Toronto service to help you out. A professional Pest Control Toronto – The Exterminators has the skill, experience, and knowledge to identify, exterminate and prevent your home from future attacks.
