Termites, Pavement Ants, Carpenter Ants, Citronella Ants
When you think of spring, you probably envision blooming flowers and the return of warmer weather. But in the pest control industry, spring marks the beginning of peak pest season, when most insects are coming out of their winter hiding spots, mating – and in some cases – finding their way into our homes. Unfortunately, one of the most common springtime pests is also one of biggest threats to our homes and properties – termites. But not all swarming insects are termites, most ant species will produce winged reproductive’s as well. Save a sample and make sure to contact All County Pest Control for identification and control.
Termite Swarmers, also known as reproductives, have two pair of wings, which lie flat over the abdomen when not in use. In the springtime, the young adult male and female swarmers emerge from their nests in large groups. Once the male locates a female, they break off their wings, symbolizing that they are a couple. The new couple then select a nest location, mate, and become king and queen of a new colony. The queen has been known to live for 30 or more years.
In colder regions where termites do not typically survive the winter, new colonies can be started in one of two ways; when infested wood is introduced to a new location, or by division. Division typically occurs when a new food source is located and a sub colony is formed to exploit the source. Eventually, this sub colony can then produce the needed reproductives from nymphs (young termites), and completely break off as its own colony.
Signs of Termites
Swarms (and the shed wings left behind) are often one of the only outwardly visible signs of the existence of termites. Because of this, many people are under the misconception that termites are only a problem in the spring. However, some termite species – including subterranean termites – can remain active (though out of sight) year-round, especially in warmer climates. In these cases, termites can be at work, eating away at wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Winged Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
The presence of winged carpenter inside the home during the summer, does not by itself, mean you have a carpenter ant nest in your home. Carpenter ants are one of the largest and most common species of ants in the North East. Unlike termites, they only nest in wood and do not eat it. Outdoors they nest in hollow trees, old stumps, and other wet, rotted wood situations. Winged ants are the reproductive forms. They drop their wings soon after mating and begin to search for a suitable nesting site. They commonly enter structures but only rarely do they succeed in finding a nest site and most winged forms die before establishing a nest. If you have not seen carpenter ants in the home during the winter months, then you probably don’t have much to worry about. When they do nest indoors, they prefer wood that is wet and rotted (by leaky pipes and drains, under leaky roof shingles), but they have been found in dry areas such as hollow doors and false beams. The presence of ants in the house during late fall, winter and early spring is usually a sign of a nest indoors.
Winged Citronella Ant (Yellow Ant)
During late summer and fall and also in late winter/early spring, the invasion of flying reddish yellow or reddish brown ants is common. Homeowners fear that these winged insects are termites. However, they are usually reproductives of either the smaller or larger yellow ant. (Acanthomyops claviger andAcanthomyops interjectus, respectively) The larger yellow ant is also known as the citronella ant because when crushed or alarmed, it gives off a pronounced citronella or lemon verbena-like odor. These ants do not tend to shed their wings, that is the tell tale sign of not being a termite.
Winged Pavement Ants
Most common is the pavement ant, also referred to as the picnic ant, these ants are seen outside in great abundance, leaving ant hills in lawns, patios and walkways. Indoors, pavement ants will nest under floors, within walls and inside insulation. They prefer to nest near heat sources during winter and are often seen in the walls of ground-level masonry. Pavement ants also follow pipes, which they use to access upper floors of homes and buildings. Outdoors, they nest next to buildings, under stones or in pavement cracks so that they can enter the walls and other natural openings of buildings.
Spring time is when the singed reproductive’s will emerge, most often at the ground floor level of the home. Pavement ants are not a threat to the structure of buildings and homes, but they can be a serious nuisance to people. Contact All County Pest Control if pavement ants are seen in a home.