Although they may not be quite as problematic as some other species of ant, acrobat ants can still become quite a nuisance if they establish a colony in or around your Raleigh home. These tiny social insects reproduce at an astounding rate, each individual working tirelessly to support their colony. If disturbed, they can inflict a somewhat painful sting, which only serves to make them even more bothersome. If you need help with pest control in Raleigh, you've come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about pesky acrobat ants, including what attracts them to your home and the best ways to get rid of them if you suspect an infestation might be growing.
What Are Acrobat Ants?
Acrobat ants are named after their ability to raise their abdomens overhead, which they often do when agitated. They bear a distinctive appearance, about 1/8 inch long, with a heart-shaped abdomen and a brownish-yellow colored exoskeleton. These ants, like most others, are highly social foragers that form colonies near resource-rich areas. In the wild, they serve a useful ecological role in helping to break down decomposing matter, but when they invade homes, they become nothing more than irksome pests.
Acrobat Ants Invade Homes
They're after two things above all else: easy food and shelter. Your home has both in abundance, especially to a prospecting ant colony. They are especially attracted to starchy or sugary substances, as well as areas of high moisture content. Acrobat ants usually find their way inside through any cracks, crevices, windows, and doors around your home. You're much more likely to experience an acrobat ant infestation if you have any organic debris around your yard as they often make their colonies in such places as dead trees, fallen logs, mulch piles, or other soft, moist matter. When inside your home, they're not especially stealthy, and one of the main signs of their presence will be lines of the ants themselves marching along, looking for more food for the colony.
Acrobat Ants Can Stink
They infest people's homes, steal food, sting when agitated, and to top it all off, they can emit a distinctly unpleasant odor. Worker acrobat ants will excrete this stench as a defense when disturbed, making them all the more annoying. The more ants around your property, the stronger this stench will inevitably become.
Acrobat ants can also become dangerous, given enough time to expand their colonies. Not only do they contaminate food with diseases such as salmonella, but they can also cause some significant property damage. Acrobat ants have been known to chew on electrical wires, exposing the current- potentially leading to a fire hazard.
Acrobat Ants Are Hard To Get Rid Of On Your Own
This is perhaps the biggest problem you'll face when fighting an acrobat ant infestation. These insects are incredibly prolific and can often completely take over people's homes. Do-it-yourself treatment methods are prone to be either ineffective or hazardous to the untrained user. At the end of the day, the best way to take care of any pest problem is to partner with a professional. That's where we come in. The experts at Pest & Termite Consultants can completely eradicate any stubborn ant population around your property. Reach out now to schedule your inspection, and let our highly trained pest control technicians take care of the rest.