Ant infestations are a frequent issue for those who own businesses. These pests often inhabit areas such as kitchens, storage facilities, and various other sections of a facility. Attracted to sweet substances, such as honey or sugar, ants become unwelcome guests that lead many entrepreneurs to enlist the assistance of professional ant control.

You may have noticed ants on your countertop, windowsill, or near your door to outside. Unfortunately, if you see them there, it is likely they will soon show up elsewhere in the office too!

This blog post will help you identify these pesky insects and take steps to stop them from coming back again!

Look For Signs of Infestations

ants in office

It can be hard to deal with ants, especially when you’re not knowledgeable about these little critters. However, just like all other forms of insects and bugs, ants leave small signs that indicate their presence is nearby.

You should always look for these signs when you suspect an ant infestation in your business so you can determine what type of ant you’re dealing with.

Frass – Ants such as carpenter ants will leave behind tiny piles of their droppings. These are called frass, and it is usually found near the food sources that these ants seek out like sugary items in your kitchen or storage rooms.

Ant Trails – Look for trails made by one ant leading to another ant’s nest. You can follow them if you want, but they will lead you straight to where the nests might be hiding!

Carcasses – If an infestation has spread throughout your business, look for dead insects on windowsills or countertops that resemble crumbs rather than large chunks, otherwise known as carcasses.

Short-Circuit Electronics – This might be a surprise for you, but ants can actually cause damage to electronics. Ants love staying in warm environments, so if you’ve got a laptop or computer that’s plugged in, these insects might take up residence. This will lead to short-circuit electronics and destroy them!

Take Note Where Ants Came From

Another way to identify if you’ve got ants in your business is by looking at where they came from. If you’ve spotted ants in one area, look around the room for some of these potential sources:

Food Storage Areas – These are common areas where ants might be found as they are a food source for them. Look inside your cabinets and storage rooms to see if there’s anything on shelves or ground that an ant might have left behind. Sugary ants are often found in these places.

Windowsills – Ants will seek out windowsills because they can easily crawl up walls then onto things like counters and tables. Ants such as pharaoh ants and odorous house ants prefer these areas.

Entry Points – If you have a door to the outside that leads directly into your business, ants can enter this way. They are small enough that they will be able to easily sneak through cracks in the frame or under doors without being detected!

Be Mindful of Food Ants are Attracted to

food in office

If you want to identify what kind of ants are invading your business, you need to be mindful of what foods they like to eat. Ants such as carpenter ants, sugar ants, and pavement ants are common insects to find in businesses. You can identify them by their favorite foods or where they seek out said food!

Carpenter Ants – These large black insects love building nests near moisture like water pipes. They also eat decaying wood which is why you’ll often see these bugs crawling around wooden structures. Carpenter ants are also attracted to certain types of food such as meats, sugary items like chocolate or baked goods.

Sugar Ants – These ants are tiny and love sweet things. They might be found near your company kitchen or pantry, where there’s sugar lying around for them to eat.

Pavement Ants – Pavement ants will make their nests in cracks between pavement stones, so you’re likely dealing with a pavement ant infestation-if you’ve got any of these near your office. They are attracted to meats, nuts, seeds from plants, and sweet items like candies or baked goods.

Check Their Physical Appearance

Ants differ in shape, size, and even color. To know what kind you may be dealing with, check out their physical features!

Carpenter Ants These large black insects are one of the most common types of ants you’ll find in businesses. You can identify them by checking for a thorax that is much larger compared to other body parts, as well as elbowed antennae and legs that are longer than its head or midsection.

Sugar Ants – This ant will be smaller than carpenter ants but still have long, narrow bodies with skinny waists, so it’s easy to get confused between the two if you don’t take note of these characteristics. Look at their tiny heads, which sit directly on top of the rest of their bodies. They also have flat abdomens instead of round ones like carpenter ants.

Pavement Ants These small black insects are one of the smallest species around. You can identify them by checking for an abdomen that is much smaller than its thorax, as well as bent antennae and legs that look like they’re tucked in at their sides instead of sitting up straight!

Fire Ants Fire Ants are a species of ant native to South America but have been introduced in Malaysia and a few other countries. They are identifiable by their dark brown or red coloring with reddish tips on each part of their bodies, including antennae, legs, and abdomen!

The New Understanding

The steps outlined in this blog post should help you identify ants at your business. But, whether they’re coming from the outside or inside, these pesky insects will cause problems for your company if left unchecked.

We hope that you can stop any infestation before it starts and keep them out of your building forever by following our advice! If you have any questions about handling an ant problem, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.

Our team is happy to answer all of your questions with a smile on their face because we know just how frustrating dealing with pests can be!