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Banded Sugar Ants

Banded Sugar Ants in Seattle, WA

Sugar Ant Identification

Ants are among the most successful insects in the animal kingdom and have been deemed the #1 nuisance pest in America. Argentine ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants and pharaoh ants are the four most prevalent household ants. Ants will eat practically any kind of food, but are especially attracted to sweets. Due to their love of sugar, these ants are sometimes referred to as “sugar ants”, however, the real sugar ant, called the banded sugar ant, is exclusive to Australia and is not found in the United States.

The argentine ant and odorous house ant are both about 1/8 inch in length. The Argentine ant is a dull brown and nests outdoors in shallow mounds, while the odorous house ant is dark brown to shiny black, and nests in shallow mounds outdoors or indoors in wall voids or around water pipes and heaters. The odorous house ant emits a strong rotten coconut odor when crushed.

Pavement ants and pharaoh ants are smaller in size, between 1/16 and 3/16 inches in length. Pavement ants are dark brown to black and live in lawns or under stones, and build mounds along sidewalks and foundations near water. Pharaoh ants are yellow or honey-colored and live in wall voids, behind baseboards or insulation and outdoors in debris.

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Sugar Ant Life Stages

The life cycle of the ant consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Although there is some variation among species, a single queen typically establishes a new colony. After weeks of confinement underground, she lays between 5-60 eggs. After the eggs hatch, she feeds the larvae until they pupate. Several weeks later, the pupae transform into sterile female adult workers, and the first workers dig their way out of the nest to collect food for the colony.

The entire life cycle lasts from 6-10 weeks. Ant workers can survive up to seven years, queens can exist up to 15 years and males die soon after mating with females. As numbers increase, workers add new chambers and galleries to the nest. After a few years, the colony begins to produce winged male and female ants, which leave the nest to mate and form new colonies.

Sugar Ant Threats

Argentine ants, odorous house ants, pavement and pharaoh ants all prefer sweet, syrupy foods. Workers forage for food along paths, commonly coming into homes and buildings because of the availability of food and water sources. Ants rely on a scent left by their scouts to guide workers from their colony to specific food sources in your home. The trail is made of pheromones, natural chemicals the ants deposit along their route, like breadcrumbs.

These ants can infest any area of a structure, from crawlspaces, wall voids, kitchens and bathrooms to pantries and attics. Most sugar ants are more of a nuisance, however, argentine ants are an invasive species and have the ability to bite when threatened. Argentine ants are particularly aggressive toward other ant populations due to their sheer numbers, resulting in a serious threat to conservation efforts and native ant species.

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Sugar Ant Extermination and Control

Sugar ants are persistent pests and can be tricky to eradicate. Follow these treatment methods and prevention tips to avoid an infestation in your home.

When Ants Invade Your Home, Take Immediate Action:

  • Clean up food sources such as sugary spills, pet food, and crumbs.
  • Remove infested potted plants.
  • Call United Pest Solutions to discuss treatment and prevention strategies specific to your situation.
     

Prevention Tips:

  • Reduce moisture and standing water around your home. Repair leaky pipes and check under sinks for areas of moisture.
  • Seal entry points around the house including small openings and cracks around doors and windows.
  • Eliminate food sources and keep your home clean by routinely wiping down counters and sweeping/vacuuming floors.
  • Store food in airtight containers and keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator.
  • Keep tree branches and shrubbery well-trimmed and away from the roof and foundation of home.
  • Ants love pet food. Pick up pet bowls after feedings and clean up any crumbs.
  • Store firewood at least 20 feet away from home.

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