Ants: Idaho’s Most Pesky Home Invader

Is there an Idaho pest more annoying, persistent, and difficult to get rid of than ants? It seems that no matter how many times you spray them or destroy their nests, they just keep coming back. People struggle with ants because there are so many different species that are attracted to different things and require different treatment methods. People without specialized training will likely find it difficult to find just the right combination to take care of their ant problems once and for all. Luckily, the professionals at Averse Pest Control know all about those stubborn Idaho ants and how to treat them. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common ant species around the Treasure Valley.

Odorous House Ants

Perhaps the most common ant in the Boise area is the odorous house ant. These dark brown to black ants are a small species (2.4-3.3 mm long) with one node on their petiole (narrow waist). Odorous house ants enter homes in search of sweets and protein and will then build nests in warm moist areas like inside wall and floor voids, under sinks, and in pantries. Like the name says, these ants smell bad. When they are squished, they will emit an unpleasant odor that smells like rotten coconut.

Odorous house ant by Brian Gratwicke [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)] via Flickr



Pavement Ants

Another very common Idaho ant species is the pavement ant. These small ants range from 2.5-3 mm long and are light brown to black in color. The legs and antennae of pavement ants may be lighter than the rest of the body, and you can see parallel lines running down the head and thorax. As the name suggests, pavement ants are often found under and around pavement. All those ants that you see in sidewalk cracks along the borders of your lawn are likely pavement ants. They are hard to get rid of because they tend to nest deep underground and then enter homes in search of food. Pavement ants prefer greasy foods, but they will also eat dead insects, sugars, meats, seeds, and honeydew from aphids. Pavement ant colonies have multiple queens, which means they can grow very quickly and get very large. Pavement ants may sting if provoked, but they are generally not aggressive.

Pavement ant by Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Carpenter Ants

The largest ant species in Idaho is the carpenter ant. These ants can be from 4-13 mm in length. Carpenter ants in Idaho are typically black, but some species can also be multicolored or red, brown, or yellow. Carpenter ants can cause major problems within homes and other structures. They typically live in damp or decaying wood and will tunnel through it to create their nests. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not actually eat the wood, but their tunnels can still weaken and destroy it. Carpenter ants eat mostly protein based foods and will chow down on honeydew produced by aphids. Signs of carpenter ants may include winged ants on window sills, sawdust piles near tunnel openings, and hollow sounding wood. Carpenter ants create satellite colonies, so control can be frustrating and difficult unless you understand their behavior.

Carpenter ant by Yellowstone National Park via Flickr

Harvester Ants

Harvester ants are a medium sized ant (.25 inches), orangish-red to brownish-back in color, and have 2 nodes on their petioles. They are called harvester ants because of their ability to harvest and collect seeds over a large area, creating bare spots in lawns and vegetation. They often create large dirt mounds in desert and mountain areas. Harvester ants are largely herbivores that eat seeds and other plant materials. Harvester ants are known to give painful stings when disturbed.

Harvester Ants by Mike Lewinski [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)] via Flickr

Ant Control Experts

Idaho is home to many other species of ants including pharoah, little black ants, Argentine, rasberry crazy ants, and more. They can cause a headache for you and your family. If you are struggling with ants, give Averse Pest Control a call. We are your Boise, Nampa, Kuna, Caldwell, and Meridian pest control experts.