Houston TX Ant Control | Houston Fire Ant Control | Houston Pharaoh Ant Control | Houston Texas Ant Control Services | Houston Ant Exterminator

There are many species of ants that pose a nuisance to our homes and offices.

What Kind Of Ants Do You Have?

Public enemy #1:

Being outside is less enjoyable if you're worried about Fire Ants. We can provide control of existing fire ant mounds and help prevent new ant mounds from forming!

FIRE ANT Order/Family:  Hymenoptera/Formicidae Scientific Name:  Solenopsis spp.

Description: Fire ant workers vary in size, ranging from 1/16- to 1/4-inch long and are yellow to dark red-brown. The thorax lacks spines, and the petiole has two nodes. They have a stinger at the tip of the abdomen and ten-segmented antennae, which is tipped with a two-segmented club. Red imported fire ants are the primary insect problem for Southern home lawns, schools, parks, and business and industrial sites. Currently, fire ants infest over 325 million acres across the southern tier of states.Their bites are painfull and if you or your children are allergic to the bites, it can mean a quick trip to the emergency room.

Biology: The red fire ant single-queen colonies range in size from 80,000 - 250,000 workers and 30-100 mounds per acre. Multi-queen colonies have fewer workers per colony but 200-700 mounds per acre. Queens can produce approximately 1,500 eggs per day. The larvae mature into workers in 22-38 days. Minor workers live 30-60 days, intermediate workers 60-90 days, and major workers 90-180 days. Queens live from two to six years. Males die shortly after swarming. Six to eight swarms occur each year and typically contain 4,500 swarmers. Other species have different biological characteristics.

Habits: Several species of Solenopsis are called, fire ants, because of the fiery pain their stings inflict upon the victim. These ants usually nest in the ground but can develop colonies in structures, especially in areas near the soil. They are attracted to electrical junction boxes, such as air conditioners and traffic signals. When nesting in the soil, they build large, unsightly mounds which are a detriment to cultivation of fields. Some species of fire ants nest in typical ant habitats, such as under stones, landscape timbers, in voids and around foundations. 

These ants, and especially the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, have tremendously large colonies that can severely injure crops, lawns, young birds, and people. Fire ants prefer high protein foods but will feed on practically everything, including other insects, honeydew, seeds, fruit juices, nectar, plants, nuts, cereals, butter, grease, and meats. They also gnaw on electrical wiring and clothing, especially if it is soiled.

Solution: At Advanced Pest Control, we have a number of solutions to solve your fire ant problems using "IGR" (Insect Growth Regulator) Baits that are safe for use around children and pets.

Pharaoh Ant

These are those tiny little "sugar" ants that seem to appear out of nowhere on your countertops. We have the solution!

Origin: It is believed to have originated in Africa, but spread to Europe, and from there spread to the United States. It now is found in many parts of the world including the U.S. and Canada, and is a pest in Hawaii. As a tropical species it is most common in the warmer southern states, but inhabits structures in northern areas as well.

Biology: This tiny ant is a huge problem when it inhabits large structures, and potentially poses a health threat when nesting within hospitals, where the workers may be found on patients. Their feeding habits expose them to many filthy environments, and this leads to their potential as physical vectors of pathogenic organisms. They have a strong desire for moisture, and foods high in protein are preferred over sugary materials, although they r debris or objects on the soil.

Contact us for a Free Ant Estimate at 281-494-8900.