How Do You Get Rid of Large Black Ants

"I'm seeing large black ants in my house, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. I keep spraying the ones I see, but they keep coming back! What kind of ants are these, where do they come from, and how do I get rid of them? "

Appearance
The most common type of ant in the Virginia area that is "large" and black in color is the Carpenter Ant, a common household pest. Among the largest of ants, 1/4- to 3/8-inch long. Color varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination (most commonly black).

Habitat
Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests, leaving hollowed-out tunnels. These colonies require a constant source of water to survive, and are often found in wet, decayed wood such as dead limbs and tree stumps.

Inside, they can be found in wet, poorly ventilated spaces such as crawl spaces or attics. While carpenter ants don't eat wood, their excavations pose a property threat, making ant control imperative. In the spring, winged reproductive ants called swarmers fly out to start new colonies.

Colonies can contain up to 50,000 workers! Because you may have to deal with multiple colonies, be sure to contact your local pest control professional, and if you're in the Virginia are, please call PermaTreat!

Diet
Large black ants will feed on nearly anything people eat, particularly sweets and meats. The favorite food of adult carpenter ants is the sweet "honeydew" produced by plant-feeding insects, such as aphids, scales, and mealy bugs. Carpenter ants also feed on other insects.

Control
Successful carpenter ant control depends on eliminating the parent colony, which is usually located outdoors. Finding and treating as many nests (satellite colonies) as possible is the key to carpenter ant control.

Store firewood away from your house, trim dead limbs from trees, and remove stumps and lumber from around the house. A frequently overlooked ant control measure is to make sure that all plumbing or roof leaks are sealed.

To ensure that you apply the right type of controls to pests like large black ants, be sure to call PermaTreat today!