Ants
Ants
What you need to know
Basic Biology
A successful fertilization has occurred and the queen has laid her eggs
In about 1-2 weeks, an ant larvae emerges, this small ant larvae has a ferocious appetite and the adults spend most of the time feeding them and providing liquids
After the larvae molts and sheds skin, it is now a pupae, where it almost resembles an adult ant but has its legs and antennas folded in towards its body and are white, later they begin to darken, some species have a protective cocoon.
This is the final stage and when the pupae emerges it is a full adult, as it ages its color darkens. Depending on the role of the ant, queen, worker or male, it begins working and filling their roles.
Inside The Colony
Ants are a social insect and live in colonies. There are three main types of adult ants in a colony.
Queens
Which are the fertile females who lay eggs inside the colony
Workers
Males
Males are winged and fertilize the queen(s) during the swarming period.
Identifying The Problem & Control
Ants may be difficult to control, so here are some things you should know about their behavior
And why they can be a big problem.
Identify
Entry
Even the tiniest cracks are not a problem for ants, as they can easily enter through them to find food and water.
Nest locations
Scent trails
Once a food source is found, ants leave behind an invisible chemical trail that other ants can follow.
Colonies
Colonies can have a population of 300,000 to 500,000 ants, and relocate quickly when in danger.
Lifetime
Colonies can live for a relatively long time. Worker ants can live up to 7 years, and queens can live up to 15 years, posing a long-term problem if not treated correctly.