Texas is home to many people, critters, insects and pests. Ants are one of the most common insects in the area and they frequently intrude homes to pilfer anything tasty as most species will forage 24 hours every day. While most are familiar with the general fundamentals of ants, we at A-Tex Pest Management would like to elaborate on Rover Ants.
Rover Ant Identification
Rover ants, or more formally named Brachymyrmex spp., are very small ants, the workers only measuring approximately 1/8 of an inch long. These ants range in color from a pale yellow to blackish-brown. With the front portion of their thorax having a hump-like appearance, it is distinctly uneven and unlike other ants, this genus has 9 segmented antennae as opposed to antennae with 12 or more segments like most other ants.
Where Do Rover Ants Live
Typically, Rover Ants live under leaf litter, trash piles, and mulch when they stick to outdoor living. They are very commonly living in close proximity to people. Rover ants are particularly attracted to moisture and are frequently found around over-watered gardens or swimming pools. In both natural and disturbed habitats, rover ants build their nests. As a result, they often nest in mulch and objects on the ground such as stones, bricks, mulch and objects on the ground such as landscape timbers, leaf litter, stones, and bricks in addition to potted plants both indoors and outdoors. As versatile as they are, rover ants are not just found in Texas homes, but also beaches, mixed hardwood forests, pine forests, and prairies. Inside, rover ants are fairly adaptable and survive in different habitats, and once inside they look for shelter and food, favoring sweet selections. during hot, dry summer months, they are often found in bathrooms and kitchens. These ants slip into the houses through the cracks in the foundation and structure or gaps along with the doorway and windows.
What Do Rover Ants Eat?
The rover ant diet typically consists of honeydew produced by aphids, scale insects, and proteins from other living and dead insects in addition to the human varieties they can find.
Do Rover Ants Bite?
Rover ants are not a detriment to the structure and do not cause damage like carpenter ants, but they are more of a nuisance as they nest inside the walls of homes, hospitals, and businesses and continue to disrupt daily life with their foraging activities. These insects do not bite, nor pose any kind of health risks either. Rover ants often build nests in cinder blocks, light sockets, electrical outlets, and wall voids.
Rover Ant Prevention
To avoid living with these obnoxious ants, be sure to remediate moisture problems as much of the infestations are frequently associated with moisture and fungal decay. Any moist areas under debris, landscape timbers, or rocks should be rectified, and it is highly encouraged for homeowners to replace any wood damage in their home. Be sure to invest in weather stripping around the doors and windows where appropriate and seal any cracks, fractures, gaps, and holes in the structure.
Ant Inspections, Control & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park, Texas
Call A-Tex Pest Management today if you are experiencing an ant problem in your Austin, Texas home as any ant infestation can be a challenge to remove without professional assistance.