One type of ant that does well in damp places is the moisture ant. They eat sweet things and honeydew that aphids make. People often mistake these ants for carpenter ants because they look so much alike, but you can tell them apart by their yellowish-brown color and clear abdomen. Moisture ants like places with a lot of moisture and humidity, so they are a common problem in homes and businesses, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Because they like damp places, you can often find them in basements, crawl spaces, and places where wood has been damaged by water.
Moisture ants can be a nuisance pest in homes and gardens. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to get rid of them. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eliminating moisture ants for good.
What Are Moisture Ants?
Moisture ants, also known as flood ants or citronella ants, are small yellowish to brown ants about 1/8 inch long. As their name suggests, they prefer damp environments and are often found in areas prone to water damage like basements, bathrooms and kitchens.
Moisture ants build nests in rotting, moist wood and in the soil near building foundations. They feed on sweet substances and produce a distinctive lemony odor when crushed. While not aggressive large numbers of moisture ants can bite and their presence indicates excessive moisture that can damage wood and structures.
Signs of a Moisture Ant Infestation
Here are some of the most common signs of a moisture ant infestation:
- Sightings of small yellowish or brown ants, especially in damp areas
- Soft, decaying or water-damaged wood
- Muddy ant trails along foundations or walls
- Accumulation of soil near wood or concrete
- Citrusy odor when ants are crushed
- Ant tubes or tunnels in crawl spaces or basements
If you suspect moisture ants, inspect closely in moist hidden areas like under sinks in wall voids and crawl spaces. Getting rid of them quickly prevents further damage.
How to Get Rid of Moisture Ants
Eliminating moisture ants requires addressing the conditions that attract them, removing colonies and preventing future infestations. Here are the key steps:
1. Fix moisture problems
The first priority is fixing any moisture sources like leaky pipes, roof leaks, flashing issues or standing water. Improve ventilation and airflow in damp basements or crawlspaces. Keep gutters clear and direct water runoff away from foundations with downspout extensions or French drains.
2. Replace water-damaged wood
Inspect for wood rotted by excessive moisture and replace with treated lumber resistant to decay. Eliminate wood debris that provides ideal moisture ant nesting sites.
3. Apply insecticide treatments
Use a professional ant insecticide labeled for indoor and outdoor use to treat affected areas. Products containing active ingredients like fipronil or bifenthrin work well. Take care to treat entry points like foundation cracks, weep holes and around plumbing lines.
4. Use baits
Baits containing borax work well for moisture ants. Place them along foraging trails and near nests. Secure them so they don’t get wet.
5. Dust wall voids and crawl spaces
Apply a lightly dusty insecticide powder like diatomaceous earth or boric acid in wall voids, under cabinets and in crawl spaces where ants are active. The fine particles kill ants that come in contact.
6. Make your home less attractive
Store food in sealed containers. Clean up spills and crumbs quickly. Fix leaky plumbing. Reduce moisture and clutter to discourage ants from invading.
Moisture Ant Prevention Tips
Here are some tips to help prevent future moisture ant infestations:
- Inspect your home’s exterior annually for damage and make repairs to prevent water intrusion.
- Ensure proper grading and drainage around the foundation.
- Keep gutters clean and properly flowing.
- Ventilate damp areas like basements, crawlspaces and attics.
- Avoid stacking wood against exterior walls. Store firewood off the ground.
- Seal cracks and openings around plumbing, walls, windows and foundations.
- Treat perimeter areas with a preventive insecticide labeled for ants.
By understanding moisture ants’ preferences and adapting your home environment, you can discourage them from taking up residence in your home. When moisture ants do appear, implementing an integrated pest management approach focused on exclusion, elimination of food sources and targeted treatments can get rid of them for the long term.
When to Call a Pest Control Professional
For severe moisture ant infestations or if self treatments are not effective, don’t hesitate to call a professional pest control company. They have the specialized tools, insecticides and expertise to:
- Pinpoint the location of nests.
- Thoroughly treat inaccessible wall voids, crawlspaces and foundations where ants are active.
- Apply long-lasting barrier treatments.
- Recommend repairs to permanently exclude ants.
Getting rid of moisture ants takes diligence and patience. But taking the right steps can eliminate existing colonies and prevent new ones from invading your home.
Life Cycle and Behavior
Through eggs, larvae, and pupae stages, moisture ants go through a full metamorphosis and finally come out as adults. Their colonies can grow very quickly if the conditions are right. A single queen is in charge of laying eggs and making new ants. These social creatures live in colonies with a complex social hierarchy, where each ant has a specific role. Moisture ants are known to tend aphids for their honeydew, a sweet substance they feed on. Additionally, they can scavenge for dead insects or other protein sources, showcasing their adaptability in finding food.
Dangers of Moisture Ants
While moisture ants themselves are not dangerous, their presence can indicate potentially damaging moisture issues in your property. These ants can get into wet, water-damaged wood, and their tunneling can speed up the decay of wood, which can damage buildings. Having moisture ants can also mean that there are other issues going on, like plumbing leaks or infestations of pests that eat wood, like carpenter ants or termites. Addressing the underlying moisture issues is crucial to prevent further damage and potential infestations.
How to Kill House Ants Fast & Easy
FAQ
How to get rid of moisture ant infestation?
What is the best bait for moisture ants?
How to get rid of moisture ants vs sugar ants?
What are the tiny moisture ants?
How do I get rid of a moisture ant infestation?
Getting rid of excessive moisture in your home is the first step to ridding your home of a moisture ant infestation. Once the moisture problem has been rectified in your home, finding the areas the moisture ants have colonized and in some cases exterminating these areas may the next step.
What should one do if a fire ant bites them?
Fire ant bites can cause local inflammation over the skin which can be painful. It can be conservatively managed by applying ice packs after washing the skin with soap and water. Oral medications can be taken to help reduce inflammation faster and prevent risk of allergic reaction.
What is a moisture ant?
Moisture ant is the common name for several different species, most of which belong to the Lasius genus. What they have in common is a preference for nesting in areas of high moisture, such as wet soil and water-damaged wood. Moisture ants are found throughout the United States and around the world.
Can ant bait kill moisture ants?
Ant bait can be extremely effective against moisture ants, especially when you use a liquid bait that is highly attractive to them. However, the downside of ant bait is that it can be messy. The answer to this problem is to use ant bait stations.
How do professional pest technicians kill moisture ants?
Professional pest technicians often use special insecticides designed to reach moisture ants that exist below foundations, inside walls or behind other areas with difficult access. Special spaying nozzles or products resembling foam insulation are often the go-to tools that technicians use to kill moisture ant colonies.
Do you have a moisture ant problem?
In other words, just about anyone can have a moisture ant problem, making moisture ant control necessary. Incapable of biting or stinging humans, moisture ants are usually considered a nuisance pest. Outdoors, they eat a wide range of foods, including fruits, nuts, other insects, meat, and anything else they can find.