False Honey Ant
False Honey Ant Prevention
The best way to prevent this insect from a home invasion is to make sure to clean up after meals, and accidental spills. Remove food waste quickly from the home. Keeping plants trimmed back from your home will help to prevent these ants from entering your household, as plants act as entryways.Controlling False Honey Ant with professional products and techniques
When general prevention does not solve ant problems, it may be time to call a professional. General pest control techniques including, baits, barrier sprays, and nest drenches have shown to significantly reduce false honey ants populations in the home. Temporary solutions have also been used in controlling these ants, such as store bought baits stations, however persistent problems may be best handled by a professional. One method that this pest gains entry to a home is through plants/house contact. If their trail can be found leading from the home, out into the garden, it is best to trim the entry point source leading into your home, or have landscaping work done to tackle larger projects.Biology of the False Honey Ant
At approximately one eighth of an inch long the false honey ant is a small, yet persistent pest in California. ItsâEURTM appearance is characterized by a polished golden brown color, however their color sometimes appears black to the naked eye. Another characteristic of the false honey ant is its hourglass shaped abdomen. This feature can swell to several times its normal size. These ants have acquired there name, by their attraction for sugary products and their behavioral similarities with regards to abdomen swelling in honey pot ants. Social habits are focused around a single queen, with colonies comprised of a few thousand individuals. Click here to see a picture of a False Honey Ant QueenHabitat and range of the False Honey Ant
The false honey ant can be seen throughout most of North America. In California this ant can be found at altitudes up to 1000 meters, when water is readily available. This ant is more active than others in milder weather and can be seen looking for food at temperatures below 68º F. False honey ants have been known to nest in homes, however they are more commonly found in cracks and crevices between concrete slabs and foundation cracks.False Honey Ant Food Sources
False honey ants primarily feed on dew produced by sap sucking insects, however a small portion of their diet consists of eating other small insects or plants. Inside the home they are usually seeking sugar meals such as juices, soda, candy and other food sources. Click here to see False Honey Ants feeding on sugar water.False Honey Ant as a Pest
False honey ants do not cause physical harm to humans, however they can be irritating as pests, while they forage for household sweets. In its natural environment the false honey ant forms a symbiotic relationship with aphids, which supply the ants with a sugary sap food source. In turn the ants defend aphids from predators and will transport the aphids to neighboring plants when all of the resources have been consumed. Typical damage to the plant includes stunted growth, and disease. Click here to se a photo of false honey Ants tending aphids. Hearts Pest Management has a wide variety of integrated pest control solutions to help solve False Honey Ant infestations. For more information on ants and ant species, visit our page on Ant Control Call today to schedule service or for more information at 800-986-1006False Honey Ant References
Identification and Key Habits of Ant Pests of the Pacific Northwest Univ. of California, Davis – Guide to Vineyard Ant Identification Wildlife Guide to North America – The False Honey Ant University of Nebraska, Lancaster – Small Honey Ant Identification Texas A & M Center for Urban and Structural Entomology – Small Honey Ant (prenolepis imparis) University of Minnesota – What To Do About Household Ants?Locations
City Services for Pest Control in Los Angeles
Agoura Hills | Northridge | |
Alhambra | Pacific Palisades | |
Arcadia | Palos Verdes Estates | |
Beverly Hills | Pasadena | |
Burbank | Pomona | |
Calabasas | Rancho Palos Verdes | |
Cerritos | Redondo Beach | |
City of Industry | Reseda | |
City of Los Angeles | Rolling Hills Estates | |
Claremont | San Marino | |
Culver City | Santa Fe Springs | |
Cypress | Santa Monica | |
Diamond Bar | Sherman Oaks | |
El Monte | Sylmar | |
El Segundo | Tarzana | |
Encino | Temple City | |
Glendale | Toluca Lake | |
Granada Hills | Torrance | |
Hacienda Heights | Venice | |
Hidden Hills | Walnut | |
Hollywood | West Covina | |
La Verne | West Hollywood | |
Long Beach | West Los Angeles | |
Malibu | Westlake Village | |
Manhattan Beach | Whittier | |
Marina Del Rey | Woodland Hills | |
North Hollywood | ||
City Services for Pest Control in Orange County
Aliso Viejo | Laguna Hills | |
Anaheim | Laguna Niguel | |
Brea | Lake Forest | |
Buena Park | Los Alamitos | |
Capistrano Beach | Mission Viejo | |
City of Orange | Newport Beach | |
Corona Del Mar | Orange | |
Costa Mesa | Rancho Santa Margarita | |
Dana Point | Rossmoor | |
Fountain Valley | San Clemente | |
Fullerton | San Juan Capistrano | |
Garden Grove | Santa Ana | |
Huntington Beach | Tustin | |
Irvine | Villa Park | |
La Habra | Westminster | |
Laguna Beach | Yorba Linda | |
City Services for Pest Control in San Diego
4S Ranch | Rancho Penasquitos | |
Poway | Scripps Ranch | |
Rancho Bernardo | ||
Descanso | Ramona | |
Julian | Santa Ysabel | |
Pine Valley | ||
Bonsall | Hidden Meadows | |
Escondido | Pauma Valley | |
Fallbrook | Valley Center | |
Carlsbad | Pacific Beach | |
Coronado | Point Loma | |
La Costa | San Ysidro | |
Mira Mesa | The City of San Diego | |
Otay Mesa | ||
Cardiff by the Sea | Oceanside | |
Carmel Valley | Rancho Santa Fe | |
Del Mar | San Marcos | |
Encinitas | Solana Beach | |
La Jolla | Vista | |
Alpine | Imperial Beach | |
Bonita | Jamul | |
Chula Vista | La Mesa | |
East Lake Chula Vista | Lakeside | |
El Cajon | Santee | |