Posts made in February 2019

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants, also known as Tetramorium Caespitum, are not quite on everyone’s radar right now BUT we should be aware that they are coming sooner than we expect. With March being less than a month away, spring is right around the corner.

 

We want to help you stay ahead of these pests this year

with some facts and tips for dealing with these pests!

Here are some general facts to help you better understand the life and purpose of the Pavement Ant.

General Facts:

  • They like to eat anything and everything; from seeds, fruit and bread to nuts, meats and other insects.

  • A unique characteristic of their body is that their limbs are lighter in color, in comparison to the rest of the body.

  • Colonies are made up of:

                                – Workers, their job is to bring food back to and protect the colony.

                                – Queens, they are to lay eggs to grow the numbers of the colony.

                                – Drones, to help the queens reproduce these eggs and care for them.

  • While the females’ spines on their thorax are prominent, the males are not.

  • Under sidewalks, large rocks and building slabs are where colonies will normally form.

  • In Spring and Summer while looking for territory they will battle with other colonies for it.

  • There can be over a thousand ants in one colony.

  • Reproduction is also at its highest during the Spring and Summer months.

  • It takes about 3 months for a worker ant to form, form an egg being laid by a queen.

An informational image regarding Pavement Ants.

Pest Facts:

  • They are known for digging under the pavement of your house to get to the sand underneath. They enter through small cracks in foundation walls and concrete slabs.

  • Piles of soil and sand will appear in areas where these ants deposit debris from their nests. In the warmer months, you will see these mounds on the sidewalks. In cooler months, you will see them on top of foundational walls and near concrete cracks.

  • Because of the wide range in what they are able to consume, they will be able to get into and destroy all packages of food whether or not they are open. Not to mention, any already prepared foods that you leave out for an extended period of time.

  • If you interrupt a worker ant while they are trying to bring your food back to the colony, they may begin to bite and sting you.

  • The best way to get rid of these pests is through bait, that the workers will be able to take back to the colony and queen to share with them.

A Few Winter Tips

Complete Pest Solutions

As the weather begins to get colder and winter approaches, mosquitoes, flies and bees aren’t really a concern. We associate these pests with summer and fall. But a lack of flying pests does not mean a lack of pests during the winter.

Though you may not be dealing with an infestation right now, recognize that the risk of a pest invasion never really goes away, especially in the winter.

Here are some best practices for pest prevention:

  • Trim back trees to bar rodents from easy access to the underside of your roof overhang.
  • Declutter the basement, attic, and any utility rooms so as to eliminate any potential nesting grounds.
  • Examine the fascia board along the roof line, replacing any areas of rotted wood.
  • Repair loose mortar and replace worn weatherstripping around all windows and doors.
  • Store food in sealed containers and keep crumbs off the floor.
  • Seal any and all cracks or gaps on the home exterior with a silicone-based caulk.
  • Store firewood at least 20 feet from the home, not only off the ground but also covered.
  • Avoid ice dams by using a roof rake to dissipate potentially problematic accumulations of snow.
  • Hire a professional sweep to clean the stack, inspect the flue, and install a cap over the chimney.