Whether it’s little black ants or carpenter ants, we as humans try and figure out how to get rid of ants permanently from our property, but they do play a very important role in our environment…just not in our kitchen. Ants have been around since before the early cretaceous period. We’ve found diverse fossils of ants, meaning they have been around long enough to learn how to survive and to evolve. Like wasps, bees, termites, etc…ants are a eusocial species and a colony based species. Eusocial insects are split into two main groups. Reproductive and non-reproductive. All animals within a eusocial system, have jobs, much like we do. There are jobs like worker ants, which keep the nest growing and clean, foragers, which keep the nest fed, and so many more. Ants’ colonies are well built, and often carry multiple generations of ants, and if left alone, keep growing. But what kind of life cycle do ants go through anyways?
Egg Stage
Ant eggs are oval shaped and tiny, about the size of a period at the end of a sentence. Not all eggs will make it to adulthood, some will be eaten for extra nutrients by other nest mates. Before you go judging them…here’s a fun fact…even people eat ant eggs! A dish called escamoles is an addition to omelets, tacos, or on their own. It is found in hispanic, thai, and many other dishes around the world. Ant eggs will hatch within one to two weeks of being laid. Queen ants lay about 800 eggs per day. Ant eggs take about a month to hatch into the larva state. It is a non-stop cycle, which is why you can find ant infestation in your home rather quickly.
Larval Stage
After eggs have hatched, a larva is born. Larva is a worm shaped, not developed ant. They don’t have arms or eyes. During the larva stage, they don’t stop eating. Ants eat about 30% of their own body weight, and ant larvae eat just that. The larva will eat what worker ants chew and feed them as well as ant eggs. The queen will lay a specific set of eggs for the larva to eat. Adult ants are in charge of bringing food to the larvae so they can grow into a fully developed ant. Ant larvae are in this state for about 60 days. They go through metamorphosis, similar to butterflies. Ant larvae shed their skin, and turn into pupae.
Pupae Stage
This is the stage of metamorphosis, when the young ant is reorganizing and growing into its adult form. Some pupae spin cocoons, while others develop without one. Pupae look somewhat like adult ants, but their legs and antenna are folded tightly against their bodies. They start out pale and become darker as they mature. Adult ants will move pupae into a separate chamber of the nest to protect them from predators and give them a safe place to grow. During the day, worker ants shift the pupae into the warmer areas of the nest, since heat helps speed up their development. If the colony becomes extremely low on food, pupae and eggs may be used as a nutritional resource, but this is rare and usually a last resort.
Adult
Pupae take about 9-30 days to develop into adults. Young adults are often lighter in color, but like pupae, they darken over time. Ants, like most insects, stop growing once they reach adulthood because their exoskeleton prevents them from getting any larger. After emerging from the pupae stage, ants begin taking on their roles wihtin the colony. Queens are females that were fed more as larvae, allowing them to grow larger and develop reproductive abilities. Their primary job is to lay eggs, and under the right conditions, a queen can live for decades. Workers ants are females that were fed less than queens as a larva. They do not reproduce, but they perform essential tasks such as taking care of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. They also build and clean the nest, and gather food. Workers are wingless and typically live for several months. Males ants have wings and exist soley to mate with the queen. Their lifespan is short—only a few weeks and they do not perform jobs within the colony beyond reproduction.
Ants can infest a property quickly, and depending on the species they can cause significant damage within just a few months. Many ants can build nests within a week of finding a suitable spot, and once the colony establishes roots, it can expand even faster. No matter what we as humans do to kill ants, or try to get rid of ants permanently, they often return year after year and can continue invading or damaging your property. If you’re dealing with persistent ant problem give the professional ant exterminators here at Green Pest Management a call at (302) 777-2390, and get a free quote. Hear what customers are saying and read some reviews about our effective treatments and skilled technicians.
Q&A
Why are ants so hard to get rid of?
Ants are difficulties to eliminate because they live in large colonies, hide in hard-to-reach areas, and reproduce very quickly. Queens of many ant species lay hundreds to thousands of eggs daily.
Do ants have multiple queens?
Some species do. Colonies with multiple queens grow faster and can split into new colonies when threatened, making infestations much harder to control.
Why do ants keep coming back after I clean?
Cleaning removes food sources but not the colony or pheromones. Ants return as long as the colony is active.
Can ants really hide inside walls?
Yes. Ant nests in wall voids, under floors, behind appliances, and in insulation. These hidden nests make kill on contact sprays and other DIY treatments far less effective at eliminating the nest at the root of the problem.
Do store bought sprays work on ants?
Most sprays only kill the ants you see. They don’t reach the colony or get to the queen and can sometimes make the problem worse.
Why do ants follow each other in a line?
Ants follow pheromones left by scout ants. These chemicals guide workers to food and water sources.
Can ants survive on very little food?
Yes. Ants can live on crumbs, grease, moisture, and even tiny organic particles. This makes them persistent even in clean homes.
Do ants reproduce quickly?
Ant colonies grow fast. Queens lay eggs continuously, and some species have multiple queens producing new workers at the same time.
Will ants go away on their own?
No. Ants rarely leave without treatment. Colonies continue to grow, and queens keep reproducing new workers until the nest is eliminated.
When should I call a pest control professional?
If ants keep returning, you continue to see large trials, or DIY methods aren’t working it may be time to call a professional. Persistent activity often means the colony is hidden and needs targeted treatment and or better products. Green Pest Management provides fast, targeted ant treatments.
How can I get rid of ants?
You can get rid of ants by combining proper cleaning, colony-targeting bait, and sealing entry points. Removing food and water sources reduces the reasons ants are entering your space in the first place. Bait works by allowing worker ants to carry a toxic substance back to the colony where it spreads among members. A consistent and integrated approach provides the most reliable long-term results.
How do you get rid ants?
To get rid of ants, you must combine sanitation, baiting, and sealing entry points. Removing food and water sources reduces attraction and slows activity. Bait helps eliminate the colony because worker ants carry it back to share with others. Sealing cracks and gaps prevents new ants from entering your home.
How to get rid of ants in the kitchen?
To get rid of ants in the kitchen, you must remove food residues and eliminate the nest they are coming from. Kitchens provide easy access to sugar, crumbs, grease, and water, which attract ants quickly. Cleaning countertops, floors, and cabinet interiors helps reduce attraction. Using bait near active trails can help eliminate the colony over time.
How to get rid of black ants?
To get rid of black ants, you need to remove their food sources and eliminate the colony they are coming from. Black ants commonly enter homes through tiny cracks in foundations, around windows, or under doors while searching for sugar, crumbs, or moisture. Simply killing the ants you see will not solve the problem because more workers will continue following established scent trails. Effective black ant control typically involves sanitation, sealing entry points, and using bait that worker ants carry back to the nest to eliminate the colony at its source.
How to get rid of tiny ants?
To get rid of tiny ants, you must identify what is attracting them and use bait that targets their colony. Tiny ants are often drawn to sweet foods, sticky spills, and even small crumbs that may not be visible at first glance. Because of their small size, they can enter through extremely narrow gaps in walls, baseboards, and cabinets. Long-term control requires thorough cleaning, closing off entry points, and using appropriate bait so the infestation is eliminated rather than temporarily reduced.
How to get rid of ants in yard?
To get rid of ants in the yard, you should locate and treat visible mounds while also addressing areas near your home’s foundation. Yard ants often build nests in soil, under rocks, or near sidewalks where the ground is warm and stable. Destroying only the surface mound may cause ants to relocate rather than eliminate the colony. Outdoor bait and proper lawn maintenance can help reduce populations and prevent them from moving indoors.