California is home to many ant species. One particular species is the Harvester Ant. Harvester ants frequently invade homes. They damage landscaping and are capable of delivering painful prolonged stings and bites. Harvester ants can become aggressive when defending their nest and are easily provoked. Animal Pest Management Services, Inc will share a little bit about their behaviors and how to prevent and control Harvester ants.
Harvester Ant Identification
Identifying the invading ant species can greatly help when you need to control ants. Harvester ants are easily identified once you have discovered their mounds. Harvester ants only live in the ground and typically in loose or sandy soils. Their mounds get big. The largest mounds measure 53 inches across. Harvester ants will also clear away vegetation surrounding the mound, which often makes a perfect circle extending a few feet around the mound. They can quickly damage lawn and landscapes when they decide to dig their nest near your home. Harvester nests can go deep underground, even as much as 20 feet. Harvester ants themselves are larger ants and can reach between ¼ to 3/8 of an inch long. There are different species of Harvester ants, which vary in coloring. However, most are a reddish color and often gets mistaken for fire ants.
Where Do Harvester Ants Live?
Luckily, harvester ants often prefer to stay outdoors and primarily seek out seeds on which to feed. They’re considered a major agricultural pest as they will harvest seeds from grain and other crops. They can also damage lawns and landscapes as they tend to clear large areas. When they do invade, they enter through a rather large gap since harvester ants are rather large and robust. In most cases, when harvester ants are found indoors, they accidentally wander indoors.
Do Harvester Ants Bite or Sting?
When harvester ants invade too close to the home, often children or adults become victim of their bites and stings. Harvester ants are less aggressive than fire ants but will still attack if their nest if they feel threatened. They do have a venom which is injected by a stinger. The venom is non-lethal to humans, but the pain of their stings can last a long time and are more painful than fire ants. For those with a severe reaction to stings, such as bee stings, the venom can lead to serious allergic reactions.
Ant Pest Inspections, Control & More in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & San Diego Counties, California
When harvester ants are found near the home it is recommended to seek out professional pest control assistance. Since harvest ant mounds are typically easy to locate, the mound site is treated directly. Often a pest control technician will place ant bait near the mound which the ants collect and consumes over time. Treating a mature harvester ant colony can take time, as the ants will often collect food and store it. During treatments it is recommended to keep children and even pets away from the harvester ant mound or nest as harvester ants have been known to attack in groups and even kill animals. When harvester ants or other pests begin invading your yard and home, and you need a quality pest control service, contact Animal Pest Management Services, Inc today.