
Ants are one of the more persistent types of pests. Whether you’re plagued with little black ants or carpenter ants, you probably expend a lot of energy thinking of ways to get them out of your kitchen and home. Many DIY efforts fail when it comes to eradicating ants because we don’t really understand what is at play here.
Ants have jobs to do, just like humans. The job of worker ants is to keep the nest clean, growing, and productive. They forage for food, too, which keeps the rest of the nest fed so it can continue to thrive. Ant colonies are surprisingly well built, carrying multiple generations of ants. Those colonies, when left undisturbed, will just keep growing.
If you spot ants in your home, call an ant exterminator in Nashville right away to keep the situation under control.
Egg Stage
Ant eggs are small and oval-shaped, no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. While most eggs will mature into adulthood, some will be eaten by other nest mates for extra nutrients. Ant eggs hatch within one or two weeks after being laid. Queen ants can lay 800 eggs a day, with ant eggs taking one month to hatch into a larva state. This non-stop cycle is why you may notice a constant and rapidly growing ant infestation in your home.
Larval Stage
Once the eggs have hatched, a larva is born — a worm-shaped ant with no eyes or arms. They consume a lot during this stage — about 30 percent of their body weight. Worker ants chew up and feed them food and ant eggs. The queen will also lay some eggs specifically for the larva to eat. Adult ants bring food to the larvae until they fully develop into ants. This stage lasts for 60 days. Similar to butterflies, larvae undergo metamorphosis, shedding their skin and transforming into pupae.
Pupae Stage
This is the stage of metamorphosis, a period of reorganization and growth. Some pupae spin cocoons, while others grow without one. They resemble adult ants, but keep their legs and antennae folded against their bodies. During this stage, the pupae start pale and darken over time. Worker ants place pupae into separate areas of the nest for protection and move them to warmer areas during the day to promote growth.
Adult Stage
Within a week and a half to a month, pupae transform into adults and stop growing due to their exoskeletons. This is when ants take on specific roles. Queens — larger female ants — lay eggs and can live for decades under optimal conditions. Worker ants are also female but don’t reproduce. Their roles include taking care of the eggs, larvae, and pupae, building and cleaning the nest, and foraging for food. Workers live for several months and do not have wings.
Male ants, on the other hand, have wings and live only a few weeks. Their sole purpose is to mate with the queen to ensure the survival of the colony.
When ants infest a property, they can cause significant damage in just a few short months. Once they find a suitable spot, they quickly build nests and begin to grow. Due to their rapid reproduction and organization, it is extremely difficult to get rid of ants without professional assistance.
Call PureGuard Pest Solutions in Nashville, TN
Got ants you just can’t seem to get rid of? Schedule a free inspection and quote by contacting us today at 615-502-2855.