Ants are pests commonly found throughout Southern California homes. Unfortunately, ants can be tricky to get rid of because they are known for having such a wide assortment of settling habits amongst the varying species.
At 1st Stryke, we recognize that the first step in identifying a pest problem is recognizing the species and therefore targeting our removal approach. Since we value this information, we’d like to pass it along by identifying some of the different types of ants in Southern California.
Southern California Ants
While there are over 10,000 known different ants worldwide, thankfully, only a handful can be found in Southern California. Here are some of the ants you might find around your home:
Argentine Ant
The Argentine ant is about 1/8th of an inch in size and brown. This species of ants are known for being some of the most persistent and challenging to eliminate because of how small they are.
Carpenter Ant
The carpenter ant is one of the larger ant species found in Southern California and can be anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 an inch in size. The name comes from their habit of a tunnel through wood to create homes.
Harvester Ant
The harvester ants found in Southern California are red and around 1/4th of an inch in size. This species of ants can sting and will attack people or animals that come close to their nests.
Little Black Ant
The little black ant is 1/16th of an inch in size and dark brown or black. These pesky ants will eat anything from insect honeydew to other insects, dead or alive.
Odorous House Ant
The odorous house ant is 1/8th of an inch in size and a dark brownish or black color. When crushed, these ants emit a rotten smell, which is where they get their name.
Pharaoh Ant
The pharaoh ant is less than 1/16th of an inch in size and is known for being a more yellowish to brownish color. These ants sting and are predators to other insects, which means they can spread bacteria.
Red Imported Fire Ant
The red imported fire ant has slowly but surely found its way to Southern California. These ants are 1/4th of an inch in size and red, although some may be black. Fire ant stings can be severe and even fatal when in large numbers.
Southern Fire Ant
The southern fire ant is smaller than the red imported fire ant, with the largest 1/4th of an inch in size. These ants are reddish-brown or black and can always inflict painful stings.
Thief Ant
The thief ant is tiny, only around 1/16th of an inch, and is light brown. The name of the thief ant comes from their tendency to steal food from other nearby ant colonies.
Velvety Tree Ant
The velvety tree ant ranges from 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch in size. These ants bite and inject poison into the wound.
Call Us Today!
If you think that you might have an ant issue in or around your home, it is worth identifying the source and eliminating these pests from your home with the help of 1st Stryke.
We have over 60 cumulative years of experience in the pest control industry and can solve any issue you may have. What makes us different from the competition is our personal touch. We are trained in all fields of pest control. When we come out to assess your home, we educate you on your current issues and focus on prevention for future possible pest-related needs.
Let the ant experts at 1st Stryke help you get rid of ants in or around your home. Give us a call today at (877) 787-9531 for your complimentary quote on pest control in your home.
