Big-headed Ant & Crazy Ant Control
Big-headed Ant
Big-headed ants are found in warmer and dryer sections of the United States, and have very similar habits to fire ants. Nests are found in exposed soil or under cover and in rotting wood. They rarely nest indoors, but may invade homes to forage for food. Big-headed ants prefer meats, greases and breads. They superficially resemble fire ants but can be distinguished from them by the presence of 12 segments in the antenna, with a 3-segmented antennal club. Big-headed ants are light brown to dark reddish brown, an have two sizes of workers. One size is 1/8 inch long, has an enormous head and is sometimes called a seed cracker worker. The minor workers (1/16 inch) do not have heads, which narrow abruptly behind the eyes. heads, which narrow abruptly behind the eyes. These ants can be found nesting in the soil around homes in many areas of the United States.
They have become a persistent problem in the South, with reports of workers invading homes in their search for food. Items in contact with the soil (logs, stones, firewood, debris) should be lifted to check for ant colonies. Piles of displaced soil should always be noted as these indicate the presence of an ant colony.
Along foundations, big-headed ants have a habit of using the crack between the soil and the foundation to nest; flooding the crack with water will quickly reveal a nest location. Nests in potted plants are common and can result in colonies being carried inside. Most indoor infestations of big-headed ants tend to originate from outdoors. -headed ants are found in warmer and dryer sections of the United States, and have very similar habits to fire ants. Nests are found in exposed soil or under cover and in rotting wood.
They rarely nest indoors, but may invade homes to forage for food. Big-headed ants prefer meats, greases and breads. They superficially resemble fire ants but can be distinguished from them by the presence of 12 segments in the antenna, with a 3-segmented antennal club. Big-headed ants are light brown to dark reddish brown, an have two sizes of workers. One size is 1/8 inch long, has an enormous head and is sometimes called a seed cracker worker.
The minor workers (1/16 inch) do not have heads, which narrow abruptly behind the eyes. heads, which narrow abruptly behind the eyes. These ants can be found nesting in the soil around homes in many areas of the United States. They have become a persistent problem in the South, with reports of workers invading homes in their search for food.
Items in contact with the soil (logs, stones, firewood, debris) should be lifted to check for ant colonies. Piles of displaced soil should always be noted as these indicate the presence of an ant colony. Along foundations, big-headed ants have a habit of using the crack between the soil and the foundation to nest; flooding the crack with water will quickly reveal a nest location. Nests in potted plants are common and can result in colonies being carried inside. Most indoor infestations of big-headed ants tend to originate from outdoors.
Contact Best Pest Control Fresno today for your free quote and inspection for Big-headed ants!!
Crazy Ant
The name crazy ant arises from its characteristic erratic and rapid movement, and habit of not following trails as often as other ants. A crazy ant nest site can be found by looking for workers carrying food back to the nest. Workers are omnivorous, feeding on live and dead insects, seeds, honeydew, fruits, plant exudate's, and many gasoline stations, convenience stores, and sidewalk cafés where workers may be seen transporting crumbs and insects attracted to lights.
They apparently have a seasonal preference for a high-protein diet, and during the summer months may refuse honey or sugar baits. They are attracted to honeydew
producing in the spring and fall. They obtain honeydew by tending aphids, mealybugs, and soft scales.
Large prey items are carried by a highly concerted group action. The crazy ant is highly adaptable, living in both very dry and rather moist habitats. The crazy ant often nests some distance away from its foraging area. It nests in such places as trash, refuse, cavities in plants and trees, rotten wood, in soil under objects and also have been found under debris left standing in buildings for long periods of time.
