Ants

Family Formicidae

Ants

Latin Name

Family Formicidae

Appearance

What do ants look like?

Adult ants species come in a variety of shapes and sizes but each will be one of three different colony castes; queens workers or males. Queens are fertile females that lay all the eggs in a colony. Workers are wingless females that gather food feed larvae maintain the nest defend the colony and do not reproduce. Male ants are winged and their only job is to mate with the queens during the swarming process.

HOW DID I GET ANTS?

Poor sanitation is the primary cause of ant infestations. Leaving dirty dishes in the sink food residue on countertops crumbs on the floor and trash not frequently emptied provide food sources for meal-seeking ants. What starts with a few foragers entering a home can become a major problem if ants establish colonies in walls lawns or under home foundations.