Lone Pine Exterminating Company

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LONE PINE EXTERMINATING COMPANY
The Only Termite & Pest Control Company in Our Region with A+ Better Business Rating!
Serving Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky & Northeast Tennessee for Over 67 Years

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Ants

Ants outnumber all other terrestrial animals on earth. However, some may contend that aphids (plant lice) are number one (debatable).

If we use numbers as our criterion, we must conclude that ants are extremely successful animals.  The ants’ success is directly proportionate to their social habits as insects.
Ants have become the dominant animal on the earth because of their industrious habits and through their ability to range from the arctic region to the tropics, from sea level to mountain tops, from wetlands to dry deserts.
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Even the ants’ nest is highly adaptable to a variety of climates and soil conditions.  One of the most prominent assets of ants is their ability to “adapt” to any environment.

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Pest Ants in the United States

Most of the common species of house invading ants are not difficult to identify.  Ants are identified based on their characteristics.  Ants belong to the order hymenoptera, which means “membranous wing.”  When wings are present, there are two pairs with the front pair of wings larger than the hind pair.
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All ants belong to the family Formicidae. The key to identification depends on the subfamily of the worker caste and whether they have a “one” or “two” segmented pedicel, which is a vertical projecting “node” formed on the constricted second abdominal segment of the body. Most pest ants in the United States belong to four subfamilies.

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Ant Subfamilies

Formicinae: One-segment petiole, no stinger, sprays formic acid; circular, hair-fringed anus. Includes Crazy, Cornfield, Small Honey, Citronella, Field, Rover, and Carpenter ants.

Dolichoderinae: One petiole; slit-like ventral anus. Includes Argentine, Odorous House, Ghost, and Velvety Tree ants.
Myrmicinae: Two-segment petiole and a stinger. Includes Pharaoh, Little Black, Thief, Big-Headed, Pavement, Fire, Harvester, Leaf-Cutting, and Acrobat ants.
Ponerinae: One-segment petiole and a stinger; includes the Asian needle ant.

Colony Basics

A newly mated queen starts a nest under rocks, wood, or landscape timbers. She becomes the main egg layer, supported by workers. Workers (sterile females) handle all tasks; larger workers act as soldiers. Males die shortly after mating.

Carpenter Ants (Camponotus)

Common across the U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska. C. pennsylvanicus is the major pest east of the Mississippi.
Biology & Habits:
Carpenter ants nest or forage inside buildings and excavate wood (they do not eat it). Mature colonies (3–5 years) produce winged reproductives and may contain 100,000+ workers. They forage most heavily during larval growth periods and rely on nocturnal pheromone trails.
Feeding:
High protein intake supports brood growth; carbohydrates fuel adults. They travel long distances for sugars or any protein source. Indoors they contaminate sugary and protein-rich foods; outdoors they feed on honeydew, fruit, and insects and protect aphids, increasing plant damage.
Impact:
They damage structures and spread disease organisms in medical and food facilities. Parent nests are usually outdoors; satellite nests may be inside walls, floors, and voids.

Little Black Ant

Nests outdoors or in wall voids and masonry gaps. Eats honeydew, plant exudates, pollen, bird droppings, and many household foods, contaminating anything they contact.

Benefits

Ants aid soil aeration, decomposition, and nutrient cycling. Little black ants may reduce small fire ant colonies—but only beneficial when outside.

Control: Carpenter & Little Black Ants

Identification: Correct ID is essential for effective control.
Inspection: Check sanitation, moisture, wood-soil contact, leaks, mulch depth, stacked wood, vegetation, and presence of aphids.
Treatment: May include habitat modification, mechanical fixes, and targeted chemical applications. Professional expertise is often necessary.

Our Technicians are Fully Trained and Experienced to Provide Safe, Effective Pest Control.

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