Crawling insects
Ants: identification, signs & control
How do you get rid of ants in the house?
To get rid of ants in the house, treat the colony, not just the trail you can see. Rehoboth identifies the species, places baits that workers carry back to the nest, treats entry points and builds an exterior barrier so new colonies can't move in. Spraying visible ants with store-bought spray often splits the colony.
How do you identify ants?
- Odorous house ants: tiny, dark brown, smell like rotten coconut when crushed; trail along counters and sinks
- Pavement ants: small, dark, nest under slabs and walkways, push up little dirt piles in sidewalk cracks
- Carpenter ants: large (up to 1/2 inch), black or black-and-red, nest in damp or damaged wood
What are the signs of ants?
- Trails along baseboards, counters or windowsills
- Ants around sinks, dishwashers and pet bowls
- Small dirt piles along slab edges and walkways
- Coarse sawdust (frass) below wood trim: a carpenter ant sign
Are ants dangerous?
- Contaminate food and prep surfaces
- Carpenter ants hollow out damp wood, which points to moisture problems
- Colonies grow and send more foragers once they find food
How can you prevent ants?
- Wipe counters at night and store sweets in sealed containers
- Don't leave pet food out overnight
- Trim branches and shrubs touching the house
- Fix leaks and moisture problems (carpenter ants love damp wood)
How does Rehoboth treat ants?
Ants are covered by our four-season general pest plan. We bait active trails so workers carry it home, treat cracks and crevices where they enter, and keep an exterior perimeter barrier fresh each season. Carpenter ants get a closer look for moisture-damaged wood.
More questions
Why do ants keep coming back after I spray?
Contact sprays kill the foragers you see but not the queen. Some species respond by splitting into more colonies. Baits that workers carry back to the nest solve the source.
Get rid of ants
Tell us what you're seeing. We'll inspect, explain what we find and recommend the lightest plan that will actually work.