Pest Library
Ants
Ants are the most common pest call we get every spring. Most are just a nuisance, but a few can cause real trouble. Here is how to tell the common ones apart.
On this page: Carpenter ant · Odorous house ant · Pavement ant · Pharaoh ant
Need help now? See our general pest control service.
Which ants come inside, and why
Ants come indoors looking for food, water and shelter. A few crumbs, a sticky counter, pet food, or a leaky pipe is all it takes. Once a scout finds something good, it lays a scent trail and the rest of the colony follows.
Odorous house ants, pavement ants and pharaoh ants are mostly a nuisance and a food-contamination worry. Carpenter ants are the ones that damage wood. They don't eat it like termites do, but they hollow out damp or softened wood to nest, and over time that can weaken window frames, decks and sill plates.
Carpenter ant
Quick ID
- Large: about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, the biggest ant you'll usually see indoors
- Usually black, sometimes reddish and black
- Look-alike: termite swarmers. Ants have a pinched waist, elbowed antennae and front wings longer than the back wings
Signs of a problem
- Big black ants inside in late winter or spring, especially at night
- Small piles of coarse sawdust (frass) under windows, baseboards or in the attic
- Winged ants coming out of a wall, or faint rustling inside a wall
How Pestworx handles it
We track the ants back to the nest, treat it directly, and treat the outside where they travel in. We also point out the moisture problems and wood-to-soil contact that drew them in, so they don't move right back.
Prevention tips
- Fix leaks and replace water-damaged wood
- Trim tree branches and shrubs back from the roof and siding
- Keep firewood stacked off the ground and away from the house
Odorous house ant
Quick ID
- Small: about 1/16 to 1/8 inch
- Dark brown to black
- Smells like rotten coconut when crushed, which is how it got the name
Signs of a problem
- Long trails along counters, sinks and baseboards
- Ants swarming sweets, pet food or the trash
- Showing up indoors right after heavy rain
How Pestworx handles it
We use slow-acting baits the workers carry back to share with the colony, plus targeted outdoor treatment. Store-bought sprays usually just scatter these ants into more nests.
Prevention tips
- Wipe up spills and crumbs quickly
- Keep sweets and pet food in sealed containers
- Seal gaps around pipes and windows
Pavement ant
Quick ID
- Small: about 1/8 inch
- Dark brown to blackish, with fine grooves on the head and thorax
- Look-alike: odorous house ant, but pavement ants don't have the coconut smell
Signs of a problem
- Little mounds of sand along sidewalk cracks, driveways and patio edges
- Ants coming up through slab cracks in basements and garages
- Big ant 'battles' on the sidewalk in spring
How Pestworx handles it
We treat the nesting areas along the foundation and slab, and bait inside where they're coming through.
Prevention tips
- Seal cracks in the slab and foundation
- Sweep up crumbs, especially in kitchens and garages
- Keep mulch from piling up against the foundation
Pharaoh ant
Quick ID
- Tiny: about 1/16 inch
- Pale yellow to light brown, almost see-through
- Nests deep inside walls, behind outlets and in warm spots near pipes and heaters
Signs of a problem
- Tiny pale ants in kitchens and bathrooms all year round
- Ants coming out of electrical outlets or around plumbing
- The problem spreading through the building after someone sprayed
How Pestworx handles it
Pharaoh ants split into new colonies when sprayed, so we bait them only, with a patient, building-wide baiting plan and follow-up visits.
Prevention tips
- Don't spray them with a store-bought spray, call us first
- Keep food sealed and counters clean
- Fix plumbing leaks
Seeing ants? Get a free inspection
Call (888) 511-9460 or request a quote online and we will find out what you are dealing with. New customers get $50 off their first service with a 12-month plan.
We serve homes and businesses in Camden, Burlington, Mercer and Gloucester counties in New Jersey, and Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.
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