Most Common Ants In Norfolk

June 26, 2019

If you have never encountered a trail of ants on the floor of your Norfolk home, consider yourself lucky. Many homeowners in Virginia face the pest pressures that ants present for their homes and families. Ants are commonly known as the cleanup crew of nature and are beneficial to the environment by breaking down rotting matter, animal remains, feces, and other organic materials. But when ants decide to break into your Norfolk home for an easy meal, their “helpful” nature is no longer helpful.

Acrobat Ants

These ants typically only reach ⅛ of an inch (or 3.2 mm) in length. Acrobat ants get their name from their tendency to raise their abdomen over their heads when disturbed or aggravated. They are usually light brown to black in color and can be identified by their shiny bodies and heart-shaped abdomens. While acrobat ants are categorized as simple nuisance pests, they can cause issues for homeowners when they infest food products or choose to create nesting sites within wooden siding and wall voids.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are not native to the United States and are considered an invasive species. Unfortunately, fire ants have spread across most of the southern regions of the United States. These aggressive ants get their name from their reddish-colored bodies and their shockingly uncomfortable stings. Usually, fire ant colonies nest outdoors in Norfolk lawns rather than inside the structure of homes. Fire ants may enter homes in search of food, however, most of the problems they cause Norfolk homeowners come in the form of ant mounds outside and their tendency to bite people when these mounds are disturbed.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants are the most common type of ant to invade homes. These ants are usually dark brown or black in color and are about 2.4 to 3.3 mm in length. While odorous house ants are not dangerous to Norfolk residents, they can be an incredibly irritating nuisance pest. Odorous house ants contaminate food items and can create a scent that resembles the odor of rotting coconuts, hence their name.

General Ant Prevention Tips

All of the common ants here in Norfolk have the potential to create problems for property owners. With these prevention tips, you can reduce your chances of attracting ants to your property.

• Ants are among the species of insects that are attracted to moisture. Reduce moisture on your property by fixing leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and by replacing water-damaged wood.
• Keep any potential food sources sealed in plastic containers or stored in the fridge.
• Sweep and vacuum floors, and wipe your counter surfaces frequently to avoid the build-up of excess sticky spots or crumbs.
• Seal all entry points along the exterior of your home. This may include your foundation, siding, exterior walls, and doorways.

Even when you follow every prevention step in the book, ants might still find a way to infest your Norfolk property. Hometown Pest Control focuses on providing comprehensive treatment options for all sorts of home-invading pests, including ants. Keep ants out of your home this year when you contact Hometown Pest Control for all of your pest control solutions!
 

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