Four Common Ants In Tennessee

If you're looking to protect your Tennessee home, these are words to live by: Small ants, small problem. Big ants, big problem. Here's why.

Small ants

Of the four most common ants you'll typically get inside your Tennessee home, three of them are smaller than 2.4 mm in length. And, though these tiny pests can drive you crazy in a big way, they aren't a real threat to the structure of your house.

Odorous house ants, which range in length from 2.4 to 3.25 mm, are a nuisance pest. When crunched underfoot, they leave a foul, rotten coconut smell, that can linger for a while.

Pharaoh ants are also a small ant that are a serious annoyance for property owners in Tennessee. Even smaller than odorous house ants, these species is yellow or brown in color and, according to the Entomology department at University of Florida, is considered one of the toughest household ants to control.

The other small ants you'll find crawling around in your home are appropriately called little black ants. Though this ant also enjoys decaying wood, you don't have to worry about them chewing galleries through the support beam in your home. At most, they will invade your cabinets looking for meats, fruits, and vegetable leftovers.

Big ants

If you are getting ants that are larger than 3.4 mm in length, you could already be in some big trouble. These ants are called carpenter ants, and they chew large pathways through wood and can make moist, decaying areas of your home structurally unsound. Floors begin to sink, walls begin to bend, and, over time, this can warp wood studs permanently and lead to a complete collapse. Needless to say, you do not want these big ants in your home.

Conclusion

Big ants can lead to big problems. If you have big ants, you need to call a pest control company immediately. This ant can cost you thousands of dollars in difficult repairs. If you have little ants in your home you don't have to worry that they have been boring their way through your support beams, but their presence is a warning sign that your home is vulnerable to pests. If small ants are getting in, your home is ripe for carpenter ants or termite infestation. Get a professional to do an inspection and learn what steps you can take to keep pests from chewing away at your equity.

For more information on how All-American Pest Control's home pest control services will protect you from the four most common types of ants in Tennessee, please give us a call or request your free home evaluation.