Ants are among the most common and pesky household insects, with hundreds of distinct species found across the United States. More than 100 of these can be found in Ohio, making ant control an important task for homeowners throughout the state. Take a look at a few of the most common species in the list below.

What Ant Species Can Be Found in Ohio?

1. Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are one of the larger species you can expect to see, with workers growing to lengths of a quarter of an inch to half an inch and winged queens up to three quarters of an inch. They get their name from their habit of boring through wood to build and expand nests, which can seriously weaken support structures like load-bearing beams.

Although they tend to prefer water-damaged areas, it can be difficult to detect carpenter ant colonies. It may be necessary to have an ant control specialist distribute pesticides through a series of small holes drilled into areas where they’re suspected to be living to get rid of them.

2. Pharaoh Ants

Possibly so-called due to the mistaken belief that they were one of the Biblical plagues of ancient Egypt, pharaoh ants are known as one of the most difficult household ant species to control. They tend to be small, growing only up to two millimeters in length, and have yellow bodies with black and red markings on the abdomen.

They’re known to be difficult to kill because, when disturbed, a colony will cautiously move its entire nest to a new location, making it tricky to find and contain them. The best way to get rid of them is usually to lay down bait in order to poison the colony.

3. Pavement Ants

Also called sugar ants, pavement ants can be found in all 50 states. They get their name from their habit of building their nests in cracks in sidewalks, paved walkways, and driveways. On top of the pavement, you’ll see a small conical mound of dirt. Workers tend to reach lengths of up to a quarter of an inch and have light brown or black bodies.

Pavement ants are relatively harmless, but they’ll feed on any food left in the open as well as grease and organic waste. You can use a non-toxic insecticide to keep them under control, but the only way to permanently destroy a colony is to find and kill the queen.

When you’re in need of expert ant control services, look no further than Bug-A-Pest. They’ve been serving communities around Maineville and Loveland, OH from two convenient locations for over 25 years. These pest control specialists can help with everything from ants to spiders, roaches, termites, and more. Call (513) 459-7700 to request a quote, or visit them online to learn more about how Mason, OH’s leading pest control service can help.