General Info
  • There are many species of Nuisance ants that invade our homes – they come in all different sizes and colors
  • Some species names are Pharaoh, Argentine, Pavement, and Odorous house ant
  • When one ant finds food or water they will lay down a chemical trail that guides other worker ants to the source - you will see trails of ants going back and forth from the food or water
Where They Nest
  • Household nuisance ants build their colony both indoors (in wall voids or under flooring) and outdoors
  • If outdoors, the colonies are often built close to the home and are hidden in the soil or under objects on the ground
What They Want From You
  • These ants are seen indoors when they search for food to bring back to the colony
  • They are known to eat many different types of food, and they can even change their food preferences during the year
Why They’re A Problem
  • Nuisance ants can infest and contaminate your food
Tips & Tricks

Cleaning and tidiness is the key! Eliminate food, water, and other things that attract ants:

  • Remove food spills and exposed food
  • Store food in sealed containers
  • Dry out bathtubs and sinks after use
  • Rinse glass, metal, plastic, and paper food containers before recycling/throwing them out
  • Clean all kitchen surfaces and vacuum spilled dried food often
  • Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink
  • Keep food out of bedrooms and living rooms
  • Cover or clean up any pet food that may have spilled from your pet's dish

Seal up entryways to help keep them out:

  • Caulk any cracks or crevices where ants can enter your home from outside or neighboring units
  • Make sure your windows and doors fit tightly
  • Avoid putting organic mulch next to your foundation, which provides an ideal place for outdoor ants to build their colony and then invade your home
  • Do not store items like firewood near the home, which provides a convenient outdoor area for ants to live and make a colony

Avoid common mistakes

  • Continue to treat problem areas even after all ants are gone (others can re-invade)
  • When using ant baits, do not place them on areas that have been sprayed with an aerosol or liquid insecticide - ants traveling over sprayed areas will die before they have a chance to bring the bait back to the colony

Size

Nuisance-Ant size bar

1/16 to 3/8 inch long

Color

The following bugs match your descriptions: