Army ants are a species of ants best known for their large, aggressive colonies. There are several different varieties of Army Ant, most notably the tropical variant, which is famous for swarming and devouring everything in their path. Thankfully, this breed of army ant is not found in the U.S. The U.S. does have army ants, primarily located in southern, humid states, but they do not display the same levels of aggression as tropical army ants. US army ants feed mainly on smaller species of ants but can occasionally kill animals such as chickens, goats, lizards, snakes, and other small animals. These ants are known to have nests of several million members, and when they hunt, they send out armies of up to 200,000 ants in their never-ending quest for food. If faced with a body of water, the armies are even able to form a ball, allowing them to cross small bonds and streams.
Despite their size, ants have an incredible impact on the environment. These small scavengers are considered a number-one predator of other insects, regularly feasting on spiders, beetles, and even other ants. Ants also help to break down decomposing material, which is why they can often be found sneaking into kitchens in search of food scraps. Currently, there are over 22,000 species of ants recorded, with 12,000 fully identified. It is estimated that there are 10,000 trillion ants worldwide, weighing more than all of mankind combined.
To ensure survival, worker ants are sent out in armies in search of food and water. Once a reliable food source is found, the ants will bring the food back to the colony. Along the way, they will mark their trail with a chemical scent, called pheromone, which helps other worker ants to locate the food source. In some cases, if the food source is too far away from the colony, army ants will relocate the nest to be closer to the source.
While ants and termites are often mistaken for each other, the easiest way to tell them apart is by body shape. While termites have two main body segments (a head and a thorax), an ant has three—a head, thorax, and abdomen.
Generally, ants will come into your home in search of food. Once a food source is located, more ants will follow, leading to an infestation. In some cases, you may see swarming ants, which indicate that a new queen ant is in search of a location where she can start a new colony. 0
Because worker ants forage for food that supplies the queen and the entire colony, the most effective way to get rid of ants is by using products which the ant perceives as food. By ingesting the product and spreading it through the nest, the ants will eventually die out, eliminating them from your home. At Blades of Green, we use products that entice the ant to ingest the product, carry it back to the nest, and share the bait with the rest of the nest. Often the product will eliminate 98% of the colony within 24-48 hours! By plugging small holes ants could use to get into your home, spraying the exterior of the house, and placing bait for the worker ants to take back to the colony, we can help you keep ants out of your home. Army ants are best known for their large, aggressive colonies. Learn how these pests work, survive, and most importantly, how to get rid of them!