Are acrobat ants a major problem in your home or commercial property? They may not be destructive like carpenter ants, but encountering hundreds of these tiny invaders in the kitchen, dining room, or cafeteria can be concerning.
Why do acrobat ants come inside? Can they cause structural damage? Will they simply go away when the summer ends? These and other questions often arise when ants appear indoors. Perhaps even better questions are: "How can acrobat ants be excluded from the building?" and "Is it possible to stop acrobat ants from coming back?"
Fortunately, a licensed pest management professional can answer all of these questions and provide effective solutions to remove acrobat ants and prevent future infestations.
With their three pairs of legs, acrobat ants are readily identifiable as insects. Workers measure only one-eighth of an inch, while the colony's reclusive queen is about three-eighths of an inch. Some acrobat ants are light brown, others dark brown or black, and some may exhibit multiple colors.
Acrobat ants are distinguished by their heart-shaped abdomens, which they lift over their heads when threatened. They also have complex antennae with 11 segments ending in a three-segmented club.
Acrobat ants are highly adaptable and can nest in various environments, including under rocks, in leaf litter, or within rotting wood. They often occupy former termite or carpenter ant nests.
Man-made structures provide excellent nesting sites. They enter through cracks or gaps in door frames, and tree branches touching a building can serve as pathways. Indoors, they prefer wall voids, damaged wood, and even Styrofoam insulation panels.
Like most ants, acrobat ants consume sugar and protein. In nature, they obtain honeydew from aphids and consume insects, including termite swarmers. Indoors, they target maple syrup, honey, peanut butter, barbecue sauce, condiments, meat, and pet food.
Carpenter ants and termites bore into wood, but acrobat ants do not. Instead, they inhabit pre-existing damage, clearing out tunnels and galleries, which may lead to sawdust or debris indoors.
While they do not directly cause structural damage, acrobat ants strip insulation from electrical and telephone wires, sometimes causing short circuits.
Acrobat ants can bite, but they are small and prefer to avoid humans. Disturbing a nest may result in multiple bites, but they rarely cause harm.
While bites from acrobat ants are not harmful, they can introduce bacteria such as Salmonella. They may also carry Clostridium, Strep, E. coli, Staph, and Shigella by contaminating food and surfaces.
Ant infestations are among the most challenging pest control issues. Effective eradication requires proper identification, locating and destroying nests, and using specialized products.
Property owners should seek professional pest control services to eliminate acrobat ant infestations.
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