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Pharaoh Ant Control

Pharaoh Ant Control Surrey

The name possibly originates from the mistaken idea that the ant was one of the plagues of ancient Egypt. Pharaoh ants commonly distributed worldwide and are well known for being one of the most evasive household ants. The ants are believed to have been introduced into Canada through human commerce where they have become a nuisance. That is why many people have turned to ants control professionals to help them get rid of these annoying pests. That is for the reason that you cannot eliminate these pests in the event that you use wrong methods. It is important to consult experts like ants control Vancouver or even ants control Richmond.

Appearance

Pharaoh worker ants are about 2 mm in length. They are small monomorphic insects and this makes their identification very difficult. Their body color ranges from light brown to yellowish to red; with a darker abdomen. The queens are about 4 mm long and are slightly darker than the workers. The antennae are straight, not elbowed, and have 12 segments with a three-segmented club on the end of each antenna. These ants have a stinger though rarely exerted.

Carpenter ants are also known to build extensive or big underground tunneling systems which they use to get to and from their main source of food. Aphid colonies are the main source of Carpenter ants ‘food. These ants do not only extract but also feed on the honeydew found in the aphid colonies. Typically, the colonies have a “parent” colony which is supplemented and surrounded by other smaller satellite colonies.

Reproduction

No swarms are known to occur in relation to the Pharaoh ant. Mating takes place in the nest. Queens can produce hundreds of eggs in their lifetime in batches of ten to twelve in their early days of egg production. Later, this trend decreases to batches of only four to seven eggs. The pharaoh ant takes about 38 to 45 days to develop from egg to an adult with fully formed male and female sexual forms. Males and females who are capable of reproduction usually take longer to develop than others. The spawning of reproductive males and females occurs biannually.

Carpenter ants build satellite nests in diverse locations that are relatively dry because the eggs there are really not environmentally sensitive.

Nesting habits

New pharaoh ant colonies are formed through budding – splitting of the colony. Daughter colonies break off from the mother colony with a few queens, larvae and workers. Even in the absence of a queen, the worker ants can develop one from the pre-adults. Budding allows pharaoh ants infestations to spread to nearly any section of a structure. Large colonies may contain up to 300,000 workers and several queens. The non-aggressive nature of pharaoh ants, including among different castes, enhances the successful growth of colonies.

Habitat

Warm, humid, and inaccessible locations near food sources favor the nesting of pharaoh ants. In Canada, heating structures make perfect habitats for Pharaoh ants, which are accustomed to tropical climates. Due to their preference for indoor nesting locations, pharaoh ants control is quite hectic. They are commonly found in apartments and commercial buildings such as hospitals, commercial bakeries, and hotels. Nest locations include wall voids, folded sheets, paper sacks, and clothes, and behind insulation appliances. Pharaoh ants will travel along electrical wires and plumbing and disperse throughout buildings and even entire blocks.

Pharaoh ant infestations in hospitals have become a major problem in various locations. They can transmit scores of pathogens, for example through the contamination of sterilized equipment and rooms. This makes them a major health risk for groups such as newborns and burn victims.

Feeding habits

Pharaoh ants can eat all types of food. They, however, prefer sweets. Additionally, they have been known to feed on other insects. Their foraging system involves an every morning food search by the workers. Once the worker finds food, it immediately returns to the nest leaving a scout trail back to the food source for other scouts to follow. Exploration of new regions for food requires the ants to employ a land rush tactic. This involves the constant release of pheromones by several workers as they forage for food.

Pharaoh ant infestations in hospitals have become a major problem in various locations. They can transmit scores of pathogens, for example through the contamination of sterilized equipment and rooms. This makes them a major health risk for groups such as newborns and burn victims.

Control

Sighting of a line of one or more pharaoh ants is a sign of either foraging or budding. Either of these calls for quick action since there might already be a large nest nearby. The tendency of pharaoh ants to nest in inconspicuous sections of a structure makes their detection very difficult hence the need to hire professional services to help in identifying and controlling these ants. Additionally, the ant can forage as far as 115 feet away from the nest complicates the location of a nest.

To avoid pharaoh ants infestation:

  • Clean up any spills and messes such as pet food and garbage
  • Rotate stored food items, first in – first out
  • Keep food preparation areas and floors clear of crumbs
  • Ensure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids
  • Upon immediate sighting, sponge invaders with soapy water
  • Plug up ants entryways with caulk or petroleum jelly

The control of Pharaoh ants can be quite complicated. Disturbance of a single nest results in budding by the ants. This gives rise to several other pharaoh ant colonies. To avoid such situations, seek professional ant control services. We offer professional ant control in Vancouver, Tsawwassen, Richmond, Burnaby, Delta, Langley, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, Mission, Port Moody, White Rock and Surrey.

Commercial Pest Control

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After years of experience and expertise, we have formulated state-of-art ants control solutions using spray, baiting and powders to cater to the customized needs of our clients. Fool-proof treatment – We inspect and reach all possible areas.

For more information please call Advance Pest Control : 604-786-4161