Ants can be a real nuisance in the kitchen and an embarrassing problem when you have company over. Infestations with ants are very common in the United States, but it doesn’t really make you feel better to know that you’re not alone when you’re dealing with those creepy crawlies on your floors, under your appliances and on your cabinetry. The good news is that you can get rid of those ant invaders, though what’s involved with removal will depend on what type you have.
It’s nice to have company in the kitchen when you’re preparing a meal, but not the kind that has six legs and antenna.
2 Kinds of Insects, 1 Big Problem
There are two kinds of ants that commonly nest indoors and tend to like to make their homes in kitchens: little black ants and carpenter ants. Also called Argentine ants and sugar ants, little black ants are very attracted to sweets but will also eat proteins like meat. The ants get inside of buildings through small openings and along utility lines. They tend to come indoors when it’s overly wet or dry outside.
Carpenter ants eat the same types of things as little black ants; however, they make their way into homes a little differently. These ants can actually burrow into door and window frames and eaves and like to make their homes in wood. While little black ants are a pain, carpenter ants are more destructive and can actually cause damage to a home.
What Kind of Ants Are They?
So how can you tell which kind you have? Try to catch one to look at it under a magnifying glass! One of the biggest differences is that the carpenter ant will have little hairs growing in rings on the back section of its body (the abdomen). Little black ants have smooth, hairless abdomens. The abdomen of the carpenter ant is also wider and more oval shaped, while the little black ant’s abdomen is narrower and more pointed. It can be very difficult to tell whether you’re looking at a little black ant or a carpenter ant, but a professional ant exterminator will be able to do so easily.
Both little black ants and carpenter ants can usually be successfully treated with a single application of the right chemicals by a professional exterminator. The cost for little black ant removal is nearly always less than carpenter ant removal. This is because of the carpenter ants’ ability to burrow into wood in the home. Generally, ant removal services start as low as $150 and can cost as much as $300. The exact price is determined by the size and severity of the infestation, your geographic location, the size of your space, the types of ants that need to be treated and other factors. Often, exterminators will recommend quarterly or monthly maintenance treatments, which usually cost somewhere between $350 to $700 annually, a small price to pay to not have to deal with ants in your kitchen again.
For more information about little black ant or carpenter ant removal in the kitchen, contact Ampm exterminators!
