Understanding the Characteristics of Sugar Ants to Know How to Eliminate Them

In Spring, sugar ants will start to invade your home in search of food and water. Although these ants don’t pose danger to human health, they are annoying and hard to control. Sugar ants are attracted to sweets and different sugary foods and scraps. After they find a food source, they will bring food back to their nest for their queen and the rest of the colony.

Identifying Sugar Ants

Sugar ants range in size but they are usually 2 mm to 15 mm in size. The majority of their mails are winged and black while their females seem to have orange-colored bodies. Also, worker ants are orange, with a tinge of brown wrapped around their body. There are different types of ants and knowing the type of ants you are dealing with is important to determine the right treatment solution to employ. Professionals from Pointe Pest Control can expertly identify ant species and know the right type of treatment method to use to eradicate the entire colony.

What Sugar Ants Eat and Where They Hide

Sugar ants usually stay in suburban areas but they can also be found in woodlands, heaths, and forests. Their nests are made in soil, featuring big dirt hills near the entrance. In the summer, you can find them under house lights and in the streets. Wherever they live has a direct impact on their size. Also, the kind of food they consume depends on their locations. In the wild, these ants mainly feed on nectar, insects, plant secretion, and small animals. Sugar ants in suburban areas feast on sugary foods, fruits, and other sweets. 

How a Sugar Ant Colony Grows

The queen of a colony of sugar ants produces eggs in late spring or early fall. Their eggs develop into new queens, males, or worker ants throughout the reproduction process. In the fall, alates or winged ants start to mate in the air while the sugar ant workers protect the colony on the ground. 

How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants

The best way to eradicate sugar ants from your home is to maintain cleanliness and practice prevention methods. Put all opened bagged foods such as cereal, chips, or cookies into sealed containers. Also, keep the surfaces, especially the counters free of leftover foods and spills. It is important to wash your dishes after every use as dirty dishes can attract sugar ants. Lastly, take the trash once it is full.