Ants are one of the most common household pests that you may find in your house. Learn about the most common types of ants that can get into your home, how to get rid of them and how to prevent a recurrence of an infestation.

The Three Most Common Ant Species That Get Into Houses

Ants are tiny, social creatures that live in large colonies. The worker ants are sent out of the colony to forage for food for the guards and queen. These ants may come into your house seeking nutrition. If you cannot get rid of the ants yourself, an exterminator in Las Vegas can help rid your home of the infestation.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are small and red in color. They live in colonies of up to 250,000 individuals. They build large mounds made of grains of sand or dirt. These ants will repeatedly sting any animal, including people, that threatens the colony. These ants are omnivores and will eat any crumbs, people food, pet food, ticks, spiders, earth worms and insect eggs. They come into your home through tiny cracks.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are light brown to black and measure about 3 millimeters long. They will invade houses, garages and buildings to look for food. They will also nest indoors under floor boards and inside of walls. They will also live on patios and decks. These ants eat meats, grease, live and dead insects, insect eggs, seeds and honeydew collected from aphids. Their nests are difficult to locate and their eradication is best left to pest control professionals.

Field Ants

Field ant workers measure 4 to 8 millimeters in length and are yellow, red, black or red with black. They make their nests in lawns, gardens, flower beds and potted plants. They will also nest in the foundations of buildings, in trees and around shrubs. These ants eat honeydew collected from aphids, which they may keep in herds in their nests. They may also eat meats, live or dead insects and insect eggs. They are attracted to the smell of grease in homes.