What makes ants hard to get rid of is the fact that there are so many of them. Typically, homeowners only see a couple ants crawling around and assume their ant problem is small. The reality is that there’s likely an entire colony of ants hiding somewhere in or around the home.

In order to fully rid your home of ants, you need to exterminate the entire colony. Depending on the species of ant, certain baits and treatments are used to remove the ants. Carpenter ants require a more in-depth treatment, since they tunnel themselves deep into wood. A professional pest control company can identify and treat every species of ant in Utah, and ensure the entire population is eliminated.

Fire ants and harvester ants are known to sting if they feel threatened. Most people don’t realize they’ve disrupted a fire ant colony until they are being stung repetitively. These stings can be painful and can cause a burning sensation, redness, swelling, and itching.

If you or a loved one has been stung or bitten by an ant, refrain from itching the sting site and wash the area with soap and water. Applying ice to the area or a topical cream can help reduce pain. If the person (or animal) is experiencing an allergic reaction, such as extreme swelling, nausea, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

If the bite or sting turns into a blister, do not pop it, since this can lead to an infection. Instead, keep the area clean and covered with a bandage.

Ants eat just about anything. But they do have some preferences. For starters, they love sugary foods, which is why they always seem to appear after a sugary drink is spilled. In nature, they find this sugar in flower nectar and a substance called honeydew from aphids.

Ants also like greenery. They eat leaves, flowers, and grass, as well as seeds and grains. Ants occasionally eat other insects or animals, too. They’ve been known to eat spiders and ticks, for example.

The most important resource for them, however, is water. Many people find ants in their bathroom or kitchen for this reason.

Yes, ants do bite — at least some species do. The main biters are fire ants, velvet ants, field ants, and harvester ants, and all of those can be found in Utah. Ants don’t usually bite unless disturbed, so it’s not very common to experience an ant bite. Their bites usually feel like a small pinch, but they can still cause severe health problems, including allergic reactions.

The bites from fire ants can be particularly painful because they usually follow the bite with a sting.

Carpenter ants are one of the most destructive ant species out there. They build their nests inside of wood, and they chew tunnels in the wood in order to access these nests. As you can imagine, these tunnels are not good for the structural integrity of the wood.

Carpenter ants are one of the largest ants in Utah, and they are usually a black or dark red/brown color. Some types of carpenter ants, called the swarmers, have wings — which is another great way to identify a carpenter ant. They have antennas, a wide, round thorax, and a slim waist.

They also shed their wings, which means that if you find wings around the home, you may have a carpenter ant problem. Other signs to look out for are piles of wood shavings around wooden areas, like baseboards.