Pest Library
Learn more about some common household pests from our highly educated staff.Pavement Ants
A common pest for many homes and businesses, a Pavement ant colony is easily identified by its signature volcano-like domes that pop up on the side of the road, sidewalks, or driveways. Though seemingly innocuous, the Pavement Ant can cause major structural damage to any area. These insects are capable of excavating enough soil to cause structures and roads to sink and settle, making repairs expensive and damage extensive. These ants are active foragers, attracted to grease and sweets. That unwashed bring pan or smear of jelly could attract these invaders and contaminate your food. These ants leave scent trails for their fellow foragers to follow, so once a single ant appears, more are soon to follow. These relentless pests will invade your home and food, causing great annoyance for you and your family.These pests multiply rapidly, and queens can lay up to forty eggs per day. Though not a medical pest, the Pavement ant is capable of biting and stinging and is an intermediate host for a kind of poultry tapeworm. They enter through pipes, electrical wires, foundation cracks, and any other crevice in your home. Once inside, these invaders are not easy to deter. Pavement ants rarely travel more than 100 feet away from the nest, so if you see a few in your kitchen, chances are, a nest is lurking quite nearby.
Platinum Pest Threat Level
low
• bite: Medium, capable of biting or stinging, leave scent trails for other ants to follow
• allergen: None
• pet: None
• child: None
• reproduction: Rapid
• colony: Small to large—ranging from a few dozen to several thousand
• attracted: Sugar and grease; warm, wet, dark places; light
• location: Throughout North America
• Avoid colonies and tightly seal food sources.
• Skip in-store treatment methods and Contact Platinum Pest Control.
• Implement spring and fall treatments to prevent further invasion.
Carpenter Ants
One of the largest ant species, these pests can be 1/4 of an inch to 1 inch long. They invade homes in search of food, tunneling into rotting wood, insulation wood, or any other soft material. These unseemingly large ants leave behind wood shavings from their tunneling to create satellite nests. Carpenter ants eat other small invertebrates and continually forage for food throughout homes and businesses.Though they prefer the outdoors, carpenter ants make their way inside for protection from harsh elements. In fact, when a home is infested, it's possible to hear them moving about in the walls with a stethoscope or by putting a glass to the wall. If you are seeing carpenter ants crawling about your home, chances are, there's a nest nearby. These pests cause slow damage and great annoyance for people who have to live with them.
Platinum Pest Threat Level
high
• bite: Medium–will bite
• allergen: Medium, bites may warrant an allergic reaction
• pet: Low
• child: Medium
• reproduction: Medium
• colony: Large–Queens often break off to start new colonies
• attracted: Crumbs, dark, damp, secluded spaces
• location: Throughout North America
• Keep fire wood away from your home and tightly seal food.
• Implement spring and fall treatment to prevent further invasion.
Odourous House Ant
A native species to North America, the odorous house ant feeds on many items found in the home–their favorites being high in sugar. This common pest is unique from other ants because of its unpleasant aroma when squished. These ants will nest inside near sources of moisture and warmth, but also in termite-damaged wood. They're capable of feeding on many types of food and will invade food supply easily.These pests won't cause any serious damage, but they do create a great annoyance.
Platinum Pest Threat Level
low
• bite: Low
• allergen: Low
• pet: Low
• child: Low
• reproduction: Medium
• colony: Large
• attracted: Sugar, warmth, moisture
• location: Throughout North America
• Keep food tightly sealed
• Contact Platinum Pest Control