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Types of Ants in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma

 Not all ants are exactly the same, so the first step in getting rid of an infestation is figuring out which type you’re dealing with. Here are the species you’re most likely to encounter if you live in Missouri, Kansas, or Oklahoma:

• Pharaoh ant: These ants are tiny in size and enter homes through torn screens or poorly-sealed doors searching for sugar and grease.
• Odorous house ant: These ants are known for the unpleasant smell they give off when crushed. They’re usually found under floorboards and in-wall crevices.
• Pavement ant: These ants are often found in the cracks in sidewalks and driveways, but they enter homes searching for food.
• Field ants: These ants usually reside in parks, gardens, and lawns. They’re sometimes mistaken for carpenter ants due to their large size.
• Carpenter ants: These ants make nests inside the wood. They’re fairly large and are usually dark in color.
• Acrobat ant: These ants like moisture and sometimes nest in rotted wood. They may travel on wires or pipes to enter a home.
• Larger yellow ant: These ants are attracted to moist and decaying wood, so they’re most often found in bathrooms or crawl spaces.

Certain types of ants can cause serious damage to your home. Carpenter ants are particularly harmful because they hollow out wooden structures to hatch their eggs. If a carpenter ant infestation goes untreated for long enough, it can affect the structural integrity of your house.

How to Keep Ants From Invading Your Home

To prevent ants from taking up residence in your home, you should reduce their access to the things they’re attracted to. Ants are always in search of food, and they’re especially interested in sugar. Keep sugary foods in tightly sealed containers, and clean up spills on your countertops or floor immediately. Ants like to feed on grease, too, so wiping up greasy spills right away can prevent an infestation. 

Moisture is another risk factor for an ant infestation. Ants may detect a leak before you do, so look for leaks or drips around your sink, fridge, washing machine, and other appliances that use water. 

Reducing the ant population outside your home can also reduce your risk of an infestation. Some homeowners pour boiling water into anthills to get rid of colonies. To entirely remove the population, though, you may have to use chemical treatments