Ant control starts with knowing all about ants . Ants appear in the fossil record across the globe in considerable diversity during the latest Early Cretaceous and early Late Cretaceous, suggesting an earlier origin. In other words, they’ve been around for a long, long time .

More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified. Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organized colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. Get this: The largest ant’s nest ever found was over 3,700 miles wide! Found in Argentina in 2000 , this HUGE colony housed 33 ant populations which had merged into one giant supercolony , with millions of nests and billions of workers!

Ants have colonized almost every landmass on Earth . The only places not requiring ant control, because they lack indigenous ants, are Antarctica and a few remote or inhospitable islands. Ants may form 15–25% of the terrestrial animal biomass . Their success in so many environments has been attributed to their social organization and their ability to modify habitats, tap resources, and defend themselves. And, they’re relentless .

It’s estimated that the total number of individual ants alive in the world at any one time is between one and ten quadrillion . According to this estimate, the total biomass of all the ants in the world is approximately equal to the total biomass of the entire human race . According to this estimate, there are approximately 1-million ants for every human on Earth. Kind of puts the issue of ant control in perspective.

Ant societies have division of labor, communication between individuals, and an ability to solve complex problems. Their ability to exploit resources often brings ants into conflict with humans . Some species, such as the red imported fire ant , are regarded as invasive species, establishing themselves in areas where they have been introduced accidentally. They are not good neighbors and they do require serious ant control .

Ants hold the record for the fastest movement in the animal kingdom . The aptly named species of trap jaw ant, can close its jaws at 140 mph , which it uses to kill its prey or injure predators. Ouch.

The ant is one of the world’s strongest creatures in relation to its size. A single ant can carry 50 times its own bodyweight , and they’ll even work together as a group to move bigger objects!

Ants are the longest living insects . Unlike some bugs who might only live for days or even hours, the queen ant of one particular species— the Pogonomyrmex Owyheei —can live up to 30 years .

Like ‘em or not, ants are amazing. If you have some troublesome ant control issues—and who doesn’t from time to time—contact us  (833) 220-1001 . We’d love to help!