Ant eggs are an integral component of a flourishing ant community. Without continuous egg production, an ant colony couldn’t sustain itself without new workers. Getting rid of ant eggs might help shorten the life cycle of a colony, but is it possible to get rid of ants before they become larvae?
This article will tell you everything you need to know about an ant’s life, from the egg to the adult, and show you how to keep them away!
Finding a cluster of small, oval objects in your home or yard can be puzzling and concerning. Upon closer inspection, you may realize they are ant eggs and start to worry about a potential infestation. Knowing what to do when you encounter ant eggs is key to getting rid of current colonies and preventing future ones.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover ant egg identification, reasons to remove them, and effective methods for safely eliminating ant eggs and colonies.
Identifying Ant Eggs
Ant eggs are very small usually between 1 to 2 millimeters long. They are often a cream or milky white color. The eggs have a smooth shiny, oval shape without any distinctions.
Ant eggs lack legs eyes, antennae or any defining body parts. They will simply appear as tiny, motionless ovals. A key identifying feature is finding piles or clusters of multiple eggs together not solitary eggs.
Their small size makes them easy to miss. Inspect cracks, corners, under objects, and anywhere dark and hidden that ants could conceal their eggs. If you’re unsure whether you’ve found ant eggs, capturing a photo to show an exterminator can confirm.
Why Remove Ant Eggs?
Seeing a few ant eggs may not seem like a big concern. But leaving them in place allows the ants to continue breeding and expanding their colony. Here are reasons removing ant eggs is important:
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Prevents growth – Each ant egg has the potential to become another colony member. Eliminating them curbs this growth.
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Limits food demands – More ants means increased foraging for food inside and outside your home. Fewer ants reduces this demand.
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Decreases nest size – Ant colonies dig large networks of tunnels which can damage your home’s structure over time. Restricting the colony’s expansion by removing eggs prevents additional digging.
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Limits colony spread – Ants form satellite colonies when the original nest gets too crowded. Destroying eggs helps contain the infestation.
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Reduces ant bites – Ants become defensive when their nest is disturbed. Eliminating eggs removes the ants before they can mature and bite.
Destroying ant eggs reduces the colony’s reproductive capacity. This is an important step in controlling infestations.
How to Remove Ant Eggs Safely
Ant eggs require special care during removal to avoid spreading them and prompting the colony to relocate. Here are tips for safe elimination:
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Wear gloves to avoid direct contact with the eggs. Ants may carry germs or diseases.
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Do not crush, smear or blow on the eggs, which can scatter them. Carefully lift them intact.
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Place eggs on a paper towel and fold over multiple times to wrap them without leakage.
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Put the wrapped eggs into a sealable plastic bag before disposal in your main garbage receptacle.
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Disinfect the area where the eggs were found with an antibacterial cleaner or spray.
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Look for more eggs nearby and repeat the careful removal process. Eliminating all eggs is key.
Removing ant eggs manually allows you to dispose of them safely without spreading the infestation. Calling a professional exterminator is recommended for large or difficult to reach egg clusters.
Follow Up with Additional Ant Control
While picking off ant eggs can slow colony growth, additional control measures are needed to fully rid your home of an infestation:
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Use ant baits or traps to kill off workers and queens who lay the eggs.
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Apply borax around nest areas to poison ants entering and leaving the colony.
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Pour boiling water on outdoor nests to instantly kill ants.
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Seal cracks, holes, and entry points in your home’s foundation to block access.
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Keep kitchen and bath areas clean and store food in sealed containers to remove attractants.
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Follow up regularly to check for and remove any new ant eggs after initial elimination.
Combining egg removal with these pest control methods provides a multipronged approach to not just reducing the colony’s reproductive capacity but eliminating all ants on your property as well. Be diligent, and your efforts will pay off through a pest-free home.
When to Call a Professional Exterminator
In some cases, the scope of an ant infestation warrants calling in a professional pest control expert:
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Large or multiple nests inside your home’s walls or crawl spaces.
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Presence of carpenter ants who can damage your home’s structure.
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Ant colonies spreading from outdoors to taking up residence indoors.
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Failed DIY efforts to destroy ant eggs or control the infestation.
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Lack of time, physical ability or knowledge to undertake removal yourself.
Licensed exterminators have the expertise and chemical treatments to fully eliminate ant colonies and ongoing issues with egg reappearing. Their insight is especially valuable for identifying exactly what ant species you are dealing with and their nest behaviors.
The Takeaway
Finding ant eggs on your property signals a colony is settled in and actively breeding. While the sight of these tiny oval objects may seem harmless, allowing them to remain and hatch permits the infestation to proliferate. Destroying the eggs reduces the colony’s size and limits its spread. Combine egg removal with additional pest control measures for the best chance of ridding your home and yard of ants for good. Stay vigilant in checking for and eliminating any new ant eggs that appear. Address an ant problem promptly before it gets out of hand.
An Ant’s Life Cycle: Transforming from Ant Eggs to Adult Workers
Every ant has to start somewhere! An ant’s life cycle begins inside an egg casing. Queen ants regularly lay dozens to hundreds of ant eggs daily, quickly populating their growing colonies.
Ant Eggs
Most ant eggs are a milky white color, typically no larger than half a millimeter. Worker ants dedicate their time to protecting the tiny eggs from intruders or other predators.
Sometimes ant eggs hatch right away, sometimes they need a few days or a few weeks. Most ants turn into female worker ants that hunt for food and protect the colony. But some turn into winged reproductives that build new nests.
Larvae Stage
After hatching, larvae exit ant eggs and begin consuming foraged food. According to the University of California’s Integrated Pest Management Program, a newly mated queen tends to the developing larvae until they grow capable of caring for her and other larvae.
Larvae feast on captured and foraged goods found by worker ants to support their maturing forms. Born without appendages or eyes, larvae depend on other worker ants to aid them in feeding.
Emerging as Pupae and Adults
As they continue to grow, the larvae will eventually transform into their pupae form. The ants will cease eating and instead remain immobile until fully matured. Some species may craft protective cocoons while others lay bare.
An ant’s maturation cycle may look differently depending on the type of ant. Some could spend a few days in this stage, while others will take many weeks to grow.
Pupae typically resemble their adult forms, albeit in a much lighter color. When not covered by a cocoon, ant pupae resemble “clear” adult ants that gradually darken in color.
Most developing adult ants transform into workers that care for the colony, while others emerge as reproductive types. All workers are female ants, but reproductive colony members may be male or female.
All reproductive members exit the colony during the late summer to mate. These winged ants meet in the sky to breed and then fly around your yard looking for a mate and a new place to live in a colony.
Queen ants that successfully breed and find a good place to nest will raise the next generation of ants. They will care for their young until they are old enough to take care of themselves. After her initial brood becomes adults, her primary purpose will be laying ant eggs.
Removing Ants from Your Property
Ants are unwelcome guests in your backyard and home. These pests can create unsightly dirt mounds in grassy areas and invade your kitchen for a sweet snack.
When you have ants, you’ll want them quickly gone. Ant problems outside are hard to solve, but it’s almost impossible to get rid of these annoying bugs on your own once they come inside.
