Problems with ants are quite common throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, and due to the tropical climate and warm temperatures found here, these ant problems can actually last all year round. Ants are common pests that come in many shapes and sizes, and each species causes its own unique problems.
Most Common Ant Species In Turks & Caicos
Here are some of the ants you can expect to see in abundance around the beautiful archipelago of Turks and Caicos:
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are, by far, the largest ants that you will see crawling around inside your home; workers can grow to be as large as 1/2 an inch in length. Carpenter ants are mostly black and have a single pointed node between their thoraxes and abdomens. Though they have the word "carpenter" in their name, they are not in the business of fixing your home. In fact, these wood-destroying ants cost home and business owners hundreds of millions of dollars annually due to their tunneling behavior.
Odorous House Ants
These ants are dark brown to black in color, measure from about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length, and have beehive-shaped abdomens. They also have a single flat node that is located between their abdomens and thoraxes. When these ants are crushed or threatened, they will emit a foul odor that smells like rotten coconut – hence their name. These are definitely not pests that you want to find invading your home in large numbers.
Pavement Ants
These ants range in length from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long. They are a shiny, dark brown or black color, and they have parallel lines on their heads and thoraxes with two nodes located in between. Pavement ants create their nests inside the cracks of pavement, in sidewalks, underneath concrete slabs, and underneath buildings. Due to their small size, these ants can easily squeeze through tiny openings in foundations or walls to gain access to our homes. Though they are typically just a nuisance, these ants are capable of transferring bacteria to food products, food storage containers, and food preparation areas.
Pharaoh Ants
These little ants are widely considered to be one of the most difficult pests to completely eliminate. They grow to be about 1/16 of an inch long, range in color from yellow to orange, and have two nodes between their abdomens and thoraxes; their abdomens are capped with a darker brown color. When these pests invade homes, they can invade food sources and cause contamination. They can also cause trouble when they get inside wiring or electronic equipment which can create serious problems. Since these ants are linked to the spread of salmonella, Streptococcus, and several other harmful diseases, it is important to be able to properly identify them.
3 Ant Prevention Tips For Turks & Caicos Homeowners
1. Reduce water sources
Fix leaky spigots and hoses, fix or unclog gutter systems, and trim back vegetation in your yard to allow the sun to dry things out after rain.
2. Seal up your foundation and exterior walls
Keep in mind that these ants don’t need much of a gap to squeeze through and get into your home.
3. Remove food sources from your property
Store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids. Move bird feeders away from the exterior of your home. Do not leave pet food outside between feedings. Clean up after barbecues or parties and remove fallen fruit or leftover vegetables in your garden.
How Parkway Pest Solutions Protects Your Home
If you are experiencing problems with ants inside your Turks or Caicos home, reach out to the professionals at Parkway Pest Services! We can help you protect your home and your health from the harmful and destructive ants that are commonly found here as well as a host of other nuisance or dangerous pests.