Stomp Pest Control provides comprehensive ant control services in the Raleigh and greater Triangle area as part of our standard pest control packages. Contact us today at (919) 231-3292 to rid your home or business of ants and other invasive insects.
Why Choose Ant Control for Your Raleigh Home?
Ants have important ecological purposes. They serve as scavengers by cleaning up dead organisms, and they serve as an ideal food source for many lizards, anteaters, and other insects.
Just because ants have a handful of environmental benefits does not mean they belong in or around your home. Once ants invade your home, they can be destructive to food and property, introducing diseases and health risks to your family.
Signs You Have an Ant Problem
- There are trails of sawdust inside or around your home
- You hear hollow sounds on wooden beams or floorboards when you knock on them
- You hear rustling noises in your walls
- You see a few ants around your house and/or ant mounds outside
- Trees are dying with ants living in them
- When you leave food out, ants crawl all over it
Ant Extermination for Multiple Species
Certain species of ants are dealt with differently than others, so identifying the species of ants is the first step we take. Understanding the specific species’ differences is imperative in order to craft an appropriate control strategy. In the Raleigh area, these are the common species we encounter:
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- Generally 1/16 inches long
- Scientific name: Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus)
- Equipped with two nodes, 6 legs, and antennas
- Can range in color from yellow to orange
- Most commonly found in urban centers
- Have been known to nest in warm building/area around 80°F (cracks in woodwork, envelopes, bed lines, bandage packs, paper stacks, etc.)
- Active year-round
- Attracted to grease, sweets, and meats
- Commonly use electrical wiring and plumbing pipes as paths to move from room to room
How to Manage and Control Pharaoh Ants:
- Reduce stored supplies of goods
- Regularly clean food areas
- Regularly rotate supplies to uncover potential nests
- Closely examine dripping faucets
- Place baits (gels and stations) to pinpoint where these pests may be foraging. Keep in mind, spraying these areas too soon will cause the colony to split up into smaller colonies, making termination more difficult
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- Generally 1/8 inches long
- Scientific name: Tapinoma sessile
- Equipped with one node, 6 legs, and antennas
- Can range in color from brownish grey to dark grey with a velvety sheen
- Second most common ant found in North American structures
- Known to be very odorous when crushed (can be crushed very easily)
- Average colony ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 members with numerous queens
- Prefer being near sweet areas such as flower nectar and honeydew-producing insects
How to Manage and Control Odorous House Ants:
- Ensure nearby trees, branches and shrubs are cut back from the home (odorous house ants are notorious for entering homes this way)
- Remove firewood and building materials from near the home
- Inspect outside areas that are close to inside activity
- Contact Stomp Pest Control to learn more about the pesticide product we have experienced consistent success with
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- Oval-shaped
- Scientific name: Linepithema humile
- Approximately 1/8 inches long
- Equipped with 1 node, 6 legs, and antennas
- Give off an unwelcoming and musty odor when crushed
- Have been known to build colonies consisting of several hundred thousand workers
- Can range in color from brown to a blackish brown with a silky shine
- Colonies are usually located in wet environments near a food source
- Colonies often merge together as one, making them tougher to exterminate
- Have been known to build shallow nests under stones, beneath plants, boards, or alongside sidewalks
- Will likely seek shelter when the weather becomes too wet or too dry
- Originated from South America
- Attracted to honeydew-producing insects, juices, nectars, and syrups, but have been know to each nearly anything
- Have a history of contaminating food
- Most commonly found in Southeast United States
How to Get Rid of Argentine Ants:
- Inspect foundation soil and well-mulched areas with moist soil
- Follow any potential trails to identify entry points into your home and/or nests
- Check out nearby shrub stems and plant leaves for any honeydew-producing insects
- Remove any moisture and sweet food sources
- Ensure all electrical outlets are clear from intruders
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- Oval-shaped
- Scientific name: Solenopsis invicta
- Approximately 0.094 and 0.236 inches long
- Equipped with 2 nodes, 6 legs, and antennas
- Can range in color from a vibrant red to dark brown
- Commonly introduced into new areas through potted plants, shrubs, and trees
- Have been known to gain access to buildings through HVAC systems and AC units
- Typically nest in soil near structural foundations or in landscaping
- Have the ability to painfully sting predators
- Create and inhabit mounds
- Exist in numerous forms including winged males, winged females (queen ants), and workers
- Originated in Brazil
- First U.S. discovery was in Mobile, Alabama
- Winged specimens can fly as far as 10 miles from the parent colony
- Have been known to devour other less aggressive ants
- Most commonly found in Southern United States, from Texas to Maryland and New Mexico to California
How to Get Rid of Imported Fire Ants:
- Keep an eye on nearby trash cans, as these ants love to infest them
- Ensure nearby shrubs and vegetation is pruned and well-kept
- Closely monitor all electrical outlets for unusual activity
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- Unevenly rounded
- Scientific name: Monomorium minimum (Buckley)
- Approximately 1/16″ long
- Equipped with 2 nodes, 6 legs, and antennas
- Can range in color from dark brown to jet black, though they’re typically jet black
- Most commonly encountered between June and August
- Typically found in Eastern United States and Southern California
- Have been known to feed on grease, fruits, meats vegetables, oil, sweets, plant secretions, and corn meals
- Commonly found in wooded areas, under rocks, in rotting logs, in woodwork, and masonry
- Equipped with a stinger, but cannot actually sting due to their stingers being so weak
- Have been known as one of the hardest species to exterminate
How to Get Rid of Little Black Ants:
- Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home, though further away is more ideal
- Regularly rotate and overturn rocks and other objects used for landscaping
- Monitor any cracks in nearby cement and holes or crevasses in cement or masonry
- Closely monitor electrical outlets and telephone jacks for unwelcomed visitors
Talk to Our Ant Control Experts in Raleigh Today
Our Raleigh area customers appreciate our comprehensive Six Step Process, low prices, and extensive guarantees. In addition to ants, our service also rids your home of spiders, roaches, and mosquitoes along with other pests and vermin. We take pride in providing effective solutions to our customers and strive to help you enjoy a healthy, pest-free home.
