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Ants in New Jersey: Identification, Risks & Prevention Tips

ants

What are Ants?

​Ants are small, social insects belonging to the family Formicidae. Living in large colonies, they are among the most common pests found in homes, businesses, and outdoor environments. While ants play an important role in nature by aerating soil and cleaning up organic material, they quickly become a nuisance when they invade kitchens, pantries, and buildings.

Are Ants Harmful?​

The risks vary depending on the species:

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  • Food Contamination: Ants travel across unsanitary surfaces before entering food prep areas, spreading bacteria.

  • Painful Bites & Stings: Fire ants deliver painful stings that can cause severe allergic reactions.

  • Structural Damage: Carpenter ants excavate wood to build nests, which can compromise structures.

  • Electrical Issues: Some ants infest wiring and equipment, causing short circuits.

  • Difficult to Eliminate: Colonies often contain thousands of workers and multiple queens.

ant climbing a branch

 

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DIY sprays often only kill visible ants while leaving colonies intact. Professional control focuses on long-term elimination.

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  • Species Identification: Carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pharaoh ants all require different treatments.

  • Targeted Treatments: Baits, non-repellent insecticides, and dusts are designed to spread back to the colony.

  • Colony Elimination: Our treatments kill queens, ensuring reproduction stops.

  • Prevention: Sealing cracks, reducing moisture, and ongoing maintenance keep ants from returning.

Ant Control

Types of Ants in NJ

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  • Carpenter Ants: Tunnel into wood, causing damage similar to termites.

  • Odorous House Ants: Give off a rotten coconut odor when crushed.

  • Pavement Ants: Nest under sidewalks and driveways, often entering homes.

  • Pharaoh Ants: Tiny yellow ants that spread rapidly indoors.

  • Fire Ants: Aggressive stingers increasingly found in the Mid-Atlantic.

ants swarming food

 

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  • Size: 1/16–1/2 inch depending on species

  • Color: Black, brown, red, or yellow

  • Features: Elbowed antennae, narrow waist, and six legs

  • Wings: Some ants develop wings for mating season

Ant Appearance

 

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  • Indoors: Kitchens, wall voids, bathrooms, and basements

  • Outdoors: Soil, mulch beds, lawns, and pavement cracks

  • Carpenter Ants: Damp or rotting wood structures

Ant Habitat

 

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  • Ants are omnivores and eat:

  • Sweets (sugar, nectar, honeydew)

  • Proteins (meat, insects, pet food)

  • Grease and oily foods

Ant Diet

kind pest logo

 

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  • Ants undergo complete metamorphosis:

  • Egg: Laid by the queen.

  • Larva: Fed by worker ants.

  • Pupa: Transforms inside a cocoon (in some species).

  • Adult: Workers, drones, or new queens emerge.

  • Colonies expand rapidly and may survive for years unless the queen is eliminated.

Ant Life Cycle

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