South Jersey Ant Control
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South Jersey: (856) 435-0332
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NJ Carpenter Ants:
Carpenter Ants Appearance Size: Up to 5/8-inch long.
Color: Varies from black, brown & black, red & black, to light brown depending on the species.
Behavior: Carpenter ants feed on a wide variety of foods, especially other insects. In the spring, mature colonies produce winged reproductive ants, called “swarmers“, that fly out to start new colonies.
These swarms often occur from satellite colonies within homes, so a homeowner may see large flying ants in their home at night.
Habits: Carpenter ants are the most common pest ant seen in homes throughout the United States. The main colony must have a constant source of moisture to survive.
The main colony may establish satellite colonies that are the primary source of ant activity inside homes. These satellite colonies set up trunk trails between the main colony and between satellite colonies.
Carpenter ants can most easily be seen along these trunk trails at night when the ants are most active.
NJ Acrobat Ants:
Acrobat Ant Appearance Size: Ranges from 1/8-inch a 1/4-inch in length.
Color: Ranges from black to dark brown to red and black. Acrobat ants are identifiable by the heart shape of their abdomen.
Behavior: When disturbed, the acrobat ant run about with their abdomens high above their heads. Like most ants, acrobat ants establish well-defined trails between the nest, food, and water source.
They feed on a wide variety of foods, but the workers are attracted to the sweet honeydew produced by aphids found feeding on many trees and plants. Fruit trees, roses, and many shrubs serve as hosts for aphids and may contribute to ant infestations in and around homes and other buildings.
Most infestations inside are the result of workers searching for food.
Habits: Acrobat ants prefer to nest in moist or rotted wood. Colonies are most often found in stumps, dead tree limbs, tree holes, and logs. Rotting areas in fences, decks, and railings may also be nesting locations.
Most infestations of acrobat ants originate from outdoor nests; however, if moist or rotted wood exist, this ant will readily nest indoors.
Such nests are typically found around the perimeter.
NJ Fire Ants:
Fire Ant Appearance Size: There are many sizes of workers, ranging from 1/8-inch to almost 3/8-inch in length.
Color: Reddish brown.
Behavior: Although the vast majority of stings result only in a raised welt, a person allergic to insect stings could experience serious reactions. Also, a person seldom receives just one sting. Rather, dozens or even hundreds of stings can be inflicted quickly on a person accidentally kneeling or standing next to or on a fire ant mound.
Habits: The red imported fire ant was brought into this country during the 1920s and has spread to cover most of the states. These ants nest in the soil and construct large mounds that are easily seen in lawns and farms.
A single lawn may contain a dozen or more mounds. This ant will also locate nests within landscape mulch and beneath items on the ground.
Fire ants may construct mounds next to the foundation and enter homes through holes or other exterior cracks.
On occasion, the ants will bring soil up into walls or beneath first floor bathrooms and construct a nest.
NJ Black Ants:
Black Ant Appearance Size: Workers of this species measure about 1/8-inch in length.
Color: Jet black.
Behavior: Little black ants are usually seen around homes following defined trails between the nest and food and water sources. Most infestations inside are the result of workers searching for food.
On occasion, a colony or part of a colony may establish itself inside a wall, behind brick veneer or beneath the carpet by a doorway.
Habits This NJ ant will take advantage of any suitable, moist space to locate its colony. They are commonly found in stumps, rotted logs, and fence posts and may be found in dead tree limbs far above the ground.
Nests are also commonly located within piles of lumber, rocks, and similar item.
NJ Odorous House Ant:
Odorous House Ant Appearance Size: About 1/8-inch long.
Behavior: Odorous house ants develop huge colonies containing thousands of workers and numerous queens. This species may be difficult to control and does not feed much on ant baits.
The keys to control are to find the colonies and sub colonies and treat them. Regular inspections and service are necessary to find and treat new colonies as they move in from neighboring properties.
Habits: This species nests outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants, and within firewood, lumber, or bricks.
Nests may readily be established inside homes, in walls, beneath carpeting, and other suitable spaces.
NJ Moisture Ant:
Moisture Ant Appearance Size: 1/8-inch in length.
Color: Dark brown.
Behavior: Moisture ants invade homes from nests in the yard while searching for food. Occasionally, an outdoor colony will relocate inside in the house where a water leak is present. The ant often carries soil into the building which it uses to construct a nest. These nests resemble hard clods of soil and may be located around a water pipe or onto a wooden sill plate or wall stud.
Habits: This species most commonly nests in the soil of lawns and fields. Once inside, nests are typically established near water leaks.
NJ Thief Ant:
Thief Ant Appearance Size: Less than 1/16-inch in length.
Behavior: Thief ants build their colonies close to those of other ants to steal that ant’s food and even capture and eat the other ant’s eggs and larvae. Colonies are usually small and are difficult to find. In homes, trails are often seen in bathrooms and kitchens and in and around windows where the ants can find moisture and food.
Habits: This ant will nest in just about any suitable location. Finding the nests is extremely difficult.
NJ Pavement Ants:
Pavement Ant Appearance Size: 1/10 to 1/8 inch (2-3mm)
Color: Brown to black
Behavior: The pavement ant is a small, brown to black ant with pale legs and a black abdomen.Pavement ants feed on a variety of materials, including live and dead insects, honeydew from aphids, meats, grease, etc.
They often enter houses looking for food. They may become numerous in a short period of time in a kitchen or outside on a patio.
Habits: Pavement ants are very common in the eastern United States. These small, brown to black ants usually nest under stones, concrete slabs, at the edge of pavements, and in houses in crevices in woodwork and masonry.
NJ Pharaoh Ants:
Pharaoh Ant Appearance Size: 1/16 to 1/2 inch (1.5-2mm)
Color: Reddish Brown
Behavior: Pharaoh ants are very small and feed on sweets such as sugar syrups, fruit juices, jellies, cakes and fruit pies as well as greases. Although Pharoah Ants feed on sweets, it is believed that they prefer fatty foods
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