What are ants?

Ants in Lake Orion, MI are one of our most common household invaders; home and business owners deal with these pests on a regular basis. Their large colony size, ability to communicate and work as a team, and their potential for multiple nesting sites make these pests particularly difficult to rid of from properties.

Ants are part of most of the earth’s ecosystems. Their presence acts as a food source for many animals; the tunnels and nests they create in the ground help to aerate the soil, and they even help with the spread of seeds. However, those ants that have adapted to living on our properties with us are unwanted pests.

Physical features of an ant include the following:

Are ants dangerous?

Carpenter ants in Lake Orion, MI are one of the most dangerous ants that find their way onto our properties in our area. These ants invade our homes, searching for food but often decide to stay and build satellite nests within our home’s structural wood. Over time, their presence creates extensive and costly damage.

Most other ants in our area, like pavement ants and odorous house ants, are nuisance ants; while they are unwanted in our homes and yard, they don’t cause significant problems. Problems they do cause include spreading bacteria to surfaces and contaminating food sources.

Why do I have an ant problem?

Ants are a problem in your yard and home because it provides them with food and water. Ants typically move into homes after being attracted by food and moisture. Having things like clogged gutters and leaking pipes can create a build-up of moisture around your house that draws ants to it. Inside, things like crumbs in the kitchen on the floor and behind appliances will keep them returning. 

Where will I find ants?

Ants live all around us. Outside, ants move around our gardens, flower beds, and trash cans, searching for food sources. Inside, we see them trailing through our kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. All it takes is for a few ants to discover a source of food for a large infestation to develop. Ants communicate by laying down pheromone trails to alert other members of the colony to food sources.

Ants nest outside in various places:

• Carpenter ants like to nest inside fallen or decaying trees.
• Odorous house ants nest under mulch, woodpiles, and landscaping ties.
• Pavement ants nest in the damp soil found next to sidewalks, driveways, and buildings’ foundations.
• Inside our homes, structural wood, wall voids, insulation, spaces behind cabinets, and attics are utilized by ants as nesting sites.