Even though it is annoying to see ants getting in your homes or relaxing in your garden’s backyard, ants do help the environment. If you have ants in your home, it is sure you made attempts to squash/kill them. Have you ever noticed a few hours after doing so, other ants begin to swarm around their dead comrades’ bodies? So what is it about dead ants that attract more ants? There is a compelling scientific reason behind an ant’s attraction to a dead ant. Ants understand death on a sophisticated level. They bring their deceased members away from the hive to a “cemetery.” You might have noticed this a few times if you looked closely at an anthill. It is common to see a group of ants hauling a dead comrade away. Ants take their dead to a place called a midden.
A Midden
A midden is similar to a dumpster. Ants usually carry their dead, waste, and contamination to this area, built to keep possibilities of infections away from the hive. Ants are brilliant creatures. They usually send out groups for investigations. When you squash an ant, the fluids release pheromones, which will signal danger to the ants in the vicinity. When the investigation group comes across the dead, they return to the hive and relay vital information. It triggers a response, and you will end up seeing a lot more ants who arrive at the location of the dead to get them back to the midden.As mentioned before, ants release pheromones. These are chemicals that send signals to other ants. Pheromones send messages of a food source, sexual desire, and death. It is advised not to squash ants, doing so will only release pheromones and trigger more ants to come to the location and cause more trouble to you and your family. Ants are known to pack a deadly bite that causes excruciating pain for a short time. Trying to squash ants will put you in a risky situation of getting bitten. If you are experiencing a rise in ant activity in your home, it’s because you provide them with food. Crumbs, pet food, gardens, and compost piles can attract ants. Another reason could also be that ants have chosen to nest on your property. They usually nest inside decaying wood, or within cracks and crevices of wooden home foundations. Carpenter ants are found in abundance in San Antonio, Texas, and are highly attracted to moisture, decaying wood, and tree trunks.
It is best not to squash ants because if you do so, you can activate an odor that will draw more ants in the vicinity. To rid your property and structures from ants, you should partner with an expert pest control company in San Antonio, Texas, such as Accurate Pest Control. Our staff consists of experienced and licensed professionals who provide comprehensive, reliable, and cost-effective pest control services in San Antonio. Reach out to us if you are looking for high-quality home pest control services in the San Antonio area.
Want to learn more about ant’s psychology? Call Accurate Pest Control today!