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When you find little black ants inside your Orlando home, they may not actually be little black ants. There are other ant species that can be confused with these ants. The species we're discussing today is Monomorium minimum. An ant of this species is about 1/16 of an inch long and dark brown to black in coloration. Most often, they are pitch black. This is why they're called little “black” ants. But it is important to be aware of this minor color variance so that you can recognize little black ants when they appear to be little “dark brown” ants. You should also be aware that little black ant colonies have many queens. This is why you'll find these ants coming into your Orlando home in large numbers, and also why it is difficult to keep them out. As we get into the topic of how to keep little black ants out, this is as good a place to start as any.
Large Numbers
When little black ants move into your yard, it doesn't take long for a colony to grow, or for a colony to replicate. The queens work hard to create offspring quickly and to grow the colony to an average size of around 2,000 individuals. As the colony reaches its maximum size, winged reproductives are created. These winged ants leave the colony to create colonies of their own. In no time, 2,000 ants become 20,000 ants, and 20,000 ants become 100,000 ants. If you've seen little black ants in your yard or landscaping, it is no wonder you're finding them in your home. With each nest, your chances of having problems with these ants inside your home increases.
Small Size
We touched on the fact that little black ants are little. But consider for a moment just how small 1/16 of an inch is. That's only 1.58 mm. It doesn't take much of a crack for one of these ants to find its way into your home. If you've taken the time to seal entry points in your exterior, it is possible to continue to have these ants finding ways inside. While sealing entry points is certainly beneficial, this method alone is not enough to keep little black ants out.
Teamwork
When you go into your pantry and find hundreds of little black ants mobbing a food package, it can make you wonder how all of those ants found their way into your home to feed on that one food source. It is because each worker ant lays down a chemical trail for the others to follow as it makes its way back to the nest. It only takes one little ant for an army of hundreds to mobilize.
Proximity
If you feel like you keep seeing little black ants in your home, it may be that there is a colony close by. While these ants can forage an impressive distance away from their nests, frequent sightings are an indication of close proximity. You may have conditions near your home that are inspiring these ants to create colonies and multiply, such as stacks of scrap wood, leaf piles, dead branches, piles of acorns, lots of sweet honeydew, overgrown landscaping, etc.
It is also possible that there is an indoor nest. This species is known to create nests inside homes. In fact, they're drawn to create indoor nests as they are attracted to cracks in driveways, walkways, and foundation walls.
Nothing To Stop Them
If you don't have a pest control plan for your Orlando home, this is another reason why you keep seeing these ants inside your home. Routine treatments performed by a licensed pest management professional provide an essential layer of protection to prevent these tiny ants from finding tiny entry points. It also works to get control of aphids and white flies, which produce the honeydew that little black ants eat.
Orlando Ant Control
At Green Flag Services, we connect Orlando residents with effective, eco-friendly pest maintenance programs that work to address ants before they find ways inside. If you don't have a pest control plan yet, we'd love the opportunity to guide you in finding the right plan for your property. No Orlando home should ever be without a pest plan. Ants are the least of our concerns in the Greater Orlando area. Why not let your little black ant problem inspire you to invest in the pest control you've always needed? Reach out to Green Flag today to learn more about Green Flag Standard and Green Flag Plus, or to schedule a visit from one of our highly trained and experienced technicians. We look forward to helping you find the right solution for all of your pest concerns.