Do you have Moisture ants in your home? Although ants are harmless, these insects can be very annoying when it comes to having them at home. These ants create a foamy substance when they digest food, due to this substance; many owners know that they have these insects in their house.
Moisture ants are monomorphic, meaning that worker-type ants are the same size. When you crush a type of Moisture ants, they release a citronella lemon scent, which is why they are also known as citronella ants.
If you want to get rid of these moisturizing ants naturally, below, you will find all the information you need about it.
What Are Moisture Ants?
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This type of ants gets its name because they look for humid places to build their colonies. Moisture ants need a lot of water to survive, so they look for these places to live.
There are many species of moisture ants, but they all assemble to form a nest near the most humid places in your home. Other types of ants that are very common in homes with sugar ants and carpenter ants. Many people confuse them, so you must verify that they are moisturizing ants.
These types of Moisture ants are wood-destroying insects. If you see these Moisture ants in your home, it will be an indicator that you have Moisture wood in or near your home. They are 4 to 4.5 mm long, and their color is yellow to dark brown.
This ants species is not a primary organism that can destroy wood; this means that it cannot destroy the dry wood. Homeowners always detect the presence of these Moisture ants during a remodel.
They are very common in humid cities like Washington and Oregon because the humidity is abundant. They have a temperate climate that can create a lot of humidity and are an extraordinary environment for moisturizing ants to thrive.
Around your home, ants prefer damp and rotten wood; they also look for damp floors. If you have a lot of humidity inside your home, you likely have an infestation.
Are Moisture Ants Dangerous?
Ants are not dangerous insects, but they are very annoying. The annoyance with Moisture ants is that they live in Moisture wood. This will tell you that you have Moisture in your home, and the wood may be rotting.
You must replace and remove Moisture wood as soon as possible for your safety and structure safety. Moisture ants are not serious insects and will only enter your home searching for plenty of water and candy. As they expand the colony, they can accelerate the deterioration process of the wood.
Moisture ants can sting, but their sting is usually painless. The swarm occurs in spring and is one of the most common signs that you have Moisture ants in place. You must seek to control them to prevent the colony from continuing to grow.
Moisture Ants Vs. Sugar Ants
Moisturizing ants build their colonies on the walls or floor of your home where there is Moisture or rotten wood. Instead, the sugar ants build their colonies under rocks, in hollows in the walls or fallen logs.
Moisture ants have a medium to large body size, while sugar ants have a small to medium body. Sugar ants can live underground and feed on sugar and food crumbs in your kitchen.
Female Moisture ants have black wings. Sugar ants are gray to black, and Moisture ants are yellow, light red to dark brown.
All types of ants have the same arthropod body but differ in that some are smaller than others. Some ants have longer bodies, and others are rounder and shorter. Some have larger jaws.
Males of Moisture ants are much smaller and darker in color compared to lighter worker ants.
The sugar ants are smaller and appear darker, and their parasites are lighter than the rest of the body. This type of ants does not vary between sex and size like the other species.
How To Get Rid of Moisture Ants Naturally?
Moisturizing ants are generally more difficult to kill than other types of ants. If they come to your house, it is looking for a specific attraction such as water, and to get rid of them, you will have to solve that problem. By eliminating the humidity problem, these ants will never return.
As they are tiny insects, it will be tough for you to seal your entire house not to enter. You must eliminate the problem that you have in your home in the wood or pipes to prevent them from making colonies in your house. You will have to replace and clean the Moisture or cold material to move them away.
Possible sources of water that can attract Moisture ants are:
- Roofs/roofs that have leaks
- Damp basements
- Ground floors
- Plumbing leaks
- Drainage problems
- Have humidity problems due to faulty ventilation
- Materials damaged by water
You will also need to attack any sources of Moisture you have around your home. Check the gaps in the walls where there are pipes, and you can seal the leaks. Keep Moisture woods in your yard away to prevent them from entering your home.
If the problem persists, you can also call a team of pest specialists, and they will know what to do.
You can also use the following treatments to remove them:
- Food grade diatomaceous earth
You should sprinkle this powder where you have frequently seen ants. This is a powder that is non-toxic and will not affect your pets or humans.
- You can use a spray that kills ants.
Use it where you see the most smoking ants kill as many ants as possible while replacing moisture-damaged materials.
How To Prevent Moisture Ants?
Moisture ants can help homeowners know where there are Moisture and decaying wood problems. Thanks to these insects, you will be able to tackle these problems and fix any problem in your house and, at the same time, eliminate these annoying ants from your home.
Please get rid of the Moisture and rotten wood and replace them with dry wood. Keep the area around your house clean and free from water leaks. This is the only way to get rid and prevent Moisture ants from being in your home.
With these tips, you can keep Moisture ants away and avoid damage to your house’s structure. Periodically check the pipes and wood of the basements and the floor to prevent it from appearing again.
