Now that the rain has gone away, it seems that the ants have come out to play. Heavy rains, like those that recently raked across parts Oklahoma, can not only force insects from the ground and their habitats, but it can also wash away their food sources. Since all those colonies of ants still need food, they’ll come into your home to get it.
During the summer, ants are mostly interested in sugary foods. An ant’s sense of smell is so powerful, it can pick up on the smell of sweet cereals still inside the box and put away behind closed doors in a pantry. That’s why it is so important to keep your counters and floors clean, your dishes done and put away, and all possible food sources sealed tightly. Right now, ants are likely not having a problem finding a water source. But in the coming weeks, when the ground dries up, they can start invading your home looking for water. Keep an eye out for ants in your bathroom as well as in the kitchen.
Here is a list of some of the types of ants that can be found in Oklahoma homes and how you can identify them:
- Carpenter Ants – large, ranging in size from 1/2 to 1 inch long, and they range in color from yellow to black, but the most common species are darker in color.
- Fire Ants – colonies contain mixed sizes of ants ranging from small (1/16 inch long) to large (1/4 inch long), typically red in color, but sometimes brown or black, with abdomens that are usually darker than the rest of their bodies.
- Odorous House Ants – medium-sized, about 1/8 inch long, brown to black in color, they release a rotten coconut smell then crushed.
- Pavement Ants – medium-sized, about 1/8 inch long, varies in color from light brown to black with lighter legs and antennae, head and thorax have longitudinal, parallel grooves, and they move slower then other types of ants.
- Pharaoh Ants – small, approximately 1/16 inches long, and are yellow, light brown or red in color, the tip of their abdomen is darker than the rest of their bodies.
If you’ve noticed trails of ants streaming from outside to inside your home, then give the ant experts at Arrow Exterminators a call and we’ll schedule a free inspection. If you are in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks or any of those surrounding areas, please call us at (918) 481-1844. If you are in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman, Stillwater or any of those surrounding areas, please call (405) 912-4337. We also have a toll free number at (800) 390-8626.
