Ant Control in Somerset, KY
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess, 03/07/2025
Ants are one of the most common pests encountered in households throughout Somerset KY, especially during ant season! Although they play important roles in the ecosystem, such as aerating soil and decomposing organic material, their presence in homes is a nuisance. Understanding ant behavior and implementing effective control strategies is essential for homeowners looking to maintain a peace of mind and a pest-free quality of life. In today’s blog, we will explore a few types of ants commonly found in Somerset KY homes, their behavior, and effective methods for controlling and preventing infestations.
Common Ant Species in Somerset, KY
Black Carpenter Ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
Black carpenter ants are one of the most significant ant species found in Kentucky. They are large, typically ranging from 1/4 to 5/8 inch long, have a single petiole node, evenly rounded thorax, a ring of hairs around the acidopore (anal pore), and are known for their ability to excavate wood to create nests. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not consume wood; instead, they hollow it out for nesting purposes, which can lead to structural damage if left unchecked (Mankin et al., 2016). In Kentucky, the easiest way to identify a black carpenter ant is by their large size.
In nature, carpenter ants play a crucial role in the decomposition of wood. They nest in tree stumps, logs, hollow trees, fallen limbs, and other decaying materials, helping to accelerate the breakdown process. However, when these ants enter our homes, they can create problems that may lead to more serious issues if not addressed.
Moist conditions from water leaks that affect wood, wood products, and even foam insulation can attract carpenter ants, especially when there are nearby food sources such as honeydew, fruit juice, sweets, meat, insects, and fruit products. Once they infiltrate a property, carpenter ants will excavate galleries within the wood or other materials to establish a colony or satellite colony, foraging your home for any available food.
Carpenter ants generally avoid dry, sound wood and prefer to nest in decaying wood, particularly in areas where termites have already created galleries. In fact, carpenter ants may actively fight and displace termites to take over these galleries for their own nesting purposes. The presence of carpenter ants could indicate that termites are also nearby and may already be causing damage to your home.
Carpenter Ant
Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile)
Odorous house ants are commonly found in kitchens and are drawn to sweet substances. They are small, measuring between 1/16 to 1/8 inch long, and are uniformly brown or black. These ants have a 12-segmented antenna that does not feature a club. They possess an even thorax, a single petiole node, and lack a circle of hairs at the acidopore.
One of the simplest ways to identify an odorous house ant is by crushing one and smelling it. If the scent resembles rotten coconut or has a sweet, rotten odor, you can be sure that it is an odorous house ant.
Their presence often indicates a food source nearby, making it important to address food storage and cleanliness (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990). When soda cans, dirty dishes, food containers, food scraps, and other food items are left around the house, even if they are in the garbage can, odorous ants can detect the scent and find their way into your home in search of an easy meal.
Odorous House Ants
Pavement Ants (Tetramorium caespitum)
The pavement ant is a small ant measuring between 1/16 and 1/8 inch in length, typically brown or black in color. These ants are commonly found nesting in soil and beneath pavement, stones, bricks, and similar materials. Two key identifying features are that their heads are wider than their bodies, and they have distinct dark parallel lines running along their head and thorax.
Pavement ants are not particular about their diet; they will eat almost anything, from meat to sweets. They primarily forage at night, which is important to consider when implementing control measures. These ants are known for their aggressive behavior when defending their nests and can invade homes in search of food (Lofgren, 1986). While they can bite and sting, they rarely cause damage to human skin.
Once indoors, pavement ants may nest in hollow blocks, foundation cracks, behind brick walls, and other similar locations. From these nesting sites, they can invade your home in search of food. If their nest is inadvertently disturbed, you may notice large numbers of ants appearing indoors.
Pavement Ants
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Understanding Ant Behavior
Ants are highly organized social insects that belong to the order Hymenoptera and the family Formicidae. They are known for their intricate social structures and can form colonies that range from a few dozen to millions of individuals. These colonies usually consist of a queen, which is responsible for reproduction, along with various castes of workers and soldiers, each fulfilling specific roles crucial for the colony’s survival and efficiency. This complex hierarchy is vital for their success as a species, making an understanding of their behavior essential for effective pest control strategies.
Foraging Behavior
Ants demonstrate a fascinating and highly coordinated foraging strategy. When searching for food, they discharge pheromones—chemical signals that serve as both a trail marker and a recruitment signal to other ants. This chemical communication facilitates collective foraging efforts, allowing the colony to efficiently exploit food sources. For instance, once a food source is discovered, forager ants leave a pheromone trail back to the nest, leading other ants to the food. This behavior can result in rapid infestations if food sources are not managed promptly, as the pheromone trail can attract a significant number of worker ants to the area, overwhelming local resources and causing potential damage to property.
Nesting Habits
Ants exhibit diverse nesting habits based on their species, and understanding where they build nests is crucial for effective control measures. For example, carpenter ants are known to construct their nests in damp or decaying wood, making homes particularly vulnerable to infestations, especially in areas of high moisture. The larvae thrive in these environments, which can weaken structural integrity over time.
On the other hand, pavement ants prefer to nest in soil, often settling under pavement or concrete. Their nesting habits can disrupt landscaping and driveways. Identifying specific nesting sites is essential for targeted interventions, which improve the effectiveness of control methods.
Some ant species like the odorous house ant, even form supercolonies, a phenomenon where multiple nests operate cooperatively and can cover vast areas with extensive underground networks. These supercolonies complicate control measures, as exterminating one nest may not significantly impact the overall population. Their ability to communicate and adapt quickly adds layers of difficulty to management strategies.
Ultimately, understanding ants’ social structures, foraging behaviors, and nesting habits paves the way for more effective control measures, whether it be through the use of baiting strategies, liquid insecticide treatments, or environmental modifications to deter their presence.
For more information and ant facts, click here.
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Effective Ant Control Strategies
Sanitation
The first step in controlling ants is to remove their food sources. Here are some sanitation tips:
- Clean Up Spills: Immediately clean up food and drink spills, especially sugary substances.
- Proper Food Storage: Store food in airtight containers and keep pet food sealed.
- Regular Cleaning: Vacuum and sweep floors regularly to eliminate food crumbs and debris.
Sanitation goes far beyond just these three simple steps. For more information on sanitation, check out this blog.
Exclusion
Preventing ants from entering your home is essential. This means that the ants can no longer access your home or that the pathways they have previously used are now repaired. This can be achieved by well-trained pest experts skilled in the art of pest exclusion. Here are a couple of tips you might be able to do on your own.
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks, gaps, and holes, particularly around windows, doors, and foundations. Seal these openings to reduce access points for ants.
- Remove Outdoor Attractions: Keep gardens and landscaping free from overhanging branches and debris, as these can serve as bridges for ants to enter your home.
While ant exclusion is much more difficult to achieve than many other pest exclusions, it is not impossible. A tremendous difference can be made by simply correcting small deficiencies where ants might gain access to your home. For more details on pest exclusions, follow this link.
Chemical Control
Good sanitation and pest exclusion will go a long way in correcting, if not completely eliminating an infestation. But, when sanitation and exclusion are not enough, chemical control may be necessary. Furthermore, many people may choose to fight an ongoing problem rather than try to fully correct it. In either case, chemical control efforts may be warranted. Here are some effective options:
- Baiting Systems: Ant baits are an effective way to control ant populations, especially odorous house ants, carpenter ants, and pharaoh ants. These baits usually contain a slow-acting insecticide mixed with attractants. Foraging ants will take the bait back to the nest, where it can eliminate the entire colony (Boulton et al., 2016). However, there are many over-the-counter baits that contain the wrong active ingredients to achieve this goal. It’s best to leave ant baiting to the professionals who have years of experience, understand the nature of effective control, and are up-to-date on effective products.
- Insecticide Sprays: Residual sprays can be applied to areas where ants are commonly seen. However, some ants do not respond well to insecticide sprays. Pharoah ants, for instance, will bud into new colonies, making them even harder to control. Odorous house ants may also disperse and regroup into multiple satellite colonies if sprays are ineffective. Either way, knowledge of the ant species and the proper control measures are crucial in any ant control regimen.
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Professional Pest Control
If you find that your ant problem persists despite your efforts, it may be time to contact a professional pest control service like Four Seasons Pest Solutions. We have the expertise and tools necessary to assess the situation and implement a comprehensive control plan tailored to your specific needs. Not only does our staff know HOW to perform an effective treatment, they know what to use, when to use it, where to use it, and how much to use so that your safety and the safety of bystanders, pets, and the environment are maintained.
What Four Seasons Pest Solutions Can Do For You
Ant control in Somerset KY, or any area, can be difficult and must be approached in a way that combines sanitation, exclusion, and, if necessary, chemical treatments. Homeowners can protect their homes from these persistent pests with sanitation, exclusion, and professional control efforts. Remember, timely action is key; addressing ant issues early can prevent larger infestations down the line. If you’re facing an ant invasion, give Four Seasons a call and let us ensure that you can maintain a pest-free quality of life.
References
- Boulton, A. M., et al. (2016). “The efficacy of ant baits in controlling populations of two species of invasive ants.” Pest Management Science.
- Hölldobler, B., & Wilson, E. O. (1990). The Ants. Harvard University Press. 3
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