Argentine Ants: Southern California’s Insect Invaders

As one of the most pervasive creatures around the globe, Argentine ants’ path to world domination hasn’t gone unnoticed—especially in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties. Masters of propagating their kind, Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) build massive colonies, disrupt the natural order of other species, and intervene in our daily lives with their sheer numbers.

A Long Journey to North America

Nearly two centuries ago, Argentine ants made their way to North America via long-distance jump dispersion due to increased trade and globalization. Native to South American countries like Argentina (hence their name), they accidentally made their way to the United States by boarding cargo ships in Brazil—containing shipments of coffee beans—and traveling to New Orleans in the late 1800s, allowing them to inhabit six of the seven continents around the world.

Proliferating Populations

The key to Argentine ants’ success lies with their superior ability to reproduce and coexist with members of their own kind from different colonies. Featuring more queens per colony than any other species of ants, Argentine ants can have nearly 15 queens for every 1,000 workers and can produce eggs for up to 10 years after mating—allowing the colony to flourish rapidly and consistently. As colonies can grow to numbers in the tens of thousands, hundreds of queens could exist across large areas of land, sometimes hundreds of miles long.

During the reproduction cycle, Argentine ants don’t swarm as other ant species do. Instead, they stick with the colony in their respective nests to mate. However, queens can leave their nests with a group of workers—a natural dispersal technique called budding—to start a new colony if they deem it too crowded. Even then, colonies often stay physically in touch with each other.

Unique to the Argentine ant, these insects lack hostile response mechanisms to members of the same species, which allows workers from different nests to be cooperative with one another and form supercolonies.

Argentine Ant Anatomy

Argentine ants feature three different types of progeny: workers, males, and queens. Workers are 2 to 3 millimeters long with a brown complexion. Males are also extremely small—ranging from 2.8 to 3 millimeters in length—but are winged, dark brown, and have a broader thorax (the section between the head and the abdomen) than their heads.

Queens are larger than workers and males, featuring a body length between 4.5 to 5 millimeters, a dark brown complexion, and a large thorax as broad as their head. Virgin queens also feature long, narrow wings.

Natural Habitats for L. Humile

Argentine ants thrive in Southern California due to our temperate climate, creating outdoor nests in the soil underneath wood slabs and yard debris as well as within the branches or cavities of trees and shrubs. These ants create 1- to 2-inch deep mounds in either moist or semi-dry soil, allowing them to thrive in many different areas around your home or business.

Why You Have Argentine Ants in Your Home

To make matters worse, our homes and businesses in Southern California give Argentine ants moisture-rich shelter when inclement weather hits. Because it’s so dry here, Argentine ants will seek out shelter indoors to forage for water sources and food. Unfortunately, their survival is in part due to the sustenance our modern buildings provide.

Foraging for Food

Whether Argentine ants are indoors or outdoors, they’re constantly on the hunt for food sources to feed their ravenous colonies. Argentine ants like to eat different foods depending on their type:

• Queens/larvae: Protein-based foods like meat and grease.
• Workers: Sugar-based foods like fruit, syrup, and desserts.

Argentine ants specifically seek out a sweet substance called honeydew, secreted by tiny plant-destroying insects called aphids. To prevent Argentine ant issues, control your aphid population by reducing the number of plants in your garden and spraying existing plants with cold water, which is a known aphid deterrent.

Organized Attacks on Native Species

For hundreds of years, odorous house ants were the species that reigned supreme in California. But since the Argentine ant has made it to Southern California, native ants haven’t stood a chance. Argentine ants are an invasive species that can take on opponents up to 10 times their size—especially as an army of thousands come together as one.

Unfortunately, the results have been bad for our natural ecosystem. Without native ants to feed on, many animals—like the horned lizard—have lost some of their primary food sources. Local plants have lost many of their pollinators, as well.

How to Get Rid of Argentine Ants in Southern California

While Argentine ants may dominate native insect species in Southern California, you can combat these ants by preventing them from nesting or entering your home. Some prevention tactics include:

• Fix leaky faucets, as Argentine ants are constantly looking for water. Keep that in mind everywhere there may be water in your home.
• Clean up food or crumbs around your kitchen or house. Argentine scout ants are constantly looking for food to bring back to their queen.
• If you see a trail of ants in your home, wipe or spray it down with window cleaner that contains ammonia. This will kill the pheromone (scent) trail they are using to get back and forth and find their way around.
• Keep food—including dog food—inside tightly sealed containers.
• Empty your indoor trash cans often. Be sure to also rinse the inside of these cans so that any spills or crumbs are washed away.
• Get rid of any outdoor nesting spots like debris and mulch.
• Trim vegetation that brushes up against your building (otherwise, they may use it to get inside).
• Seal cracks in your building’s exterior that could serve as entry points.

As Argentine ants come indoors to source food and water, professionally implemented baits are an effective strategy to take out both queens and workers. With yearly ant control applications to your foundation from Lloyd Pest Control, you can keep these aggressive ants away from your home or business.

Lloyd Pest Control: Your Frontline Defense Against Ants in Southern California

As one of the most detested insects in Southern California, both by property owners and other insects, Argentine ants have a negative impact on our surrounding ecosystem. Although these ants don’t pose a physical threat to humans, their massive colonies can be attributed to the demise of species in our area—meaning controlling their numbers is more important than ever.

Here at Lloyd, we provide innovative, eco-friendly ant control solutions for your home, going above and beyond simple, self-applied bait treatments. We’ll also keep Argentine ants from getting indoors by strategically applying ant-repelling products, creating a natural barrier around the foundation of your home that keeps these invading insects far away all year long.

Send this invasive species running for its homeland. Contact Lloyd today to get rid of ants in Southern California!

The post Why Do I Have Ants in My Home? How Do I Get Rid of Ants? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

What Makes Ants Superior by Nature

Ants are a superior pest by nature because, quite simply, there are so many of them. With impressive reproduction rates, their sheer numbers help them outnumber any other insect around. Many ant colonies house multiple queens who lay up to 1,000 eggs per day. It makes sense, then, that their populations come to dominate the areas in which they reside. Colonies can contain thousands or even millions of ants – numbers that most pests simply can’t match.

The second big reason ants have become the top pest problem is their social makeup. Other pests like spiders typically live in isolation, while ants are “social insects” that work together as one unit. It’s not uncommon to see ants protect one another or even give their lives for their colony. When starting a new nest, colonies send out scouts that look for a food source and often die in the process. They leave behind pheromones that trail all the way back to the nest. This provides the colony a direct route to a tasty meal.

The Southern California Ant Takeover

Ants have taken advantage of travel to make it to virtually every corner of the Earth. The more we become a globalized society, the easier it is for ants to reach commercial and travel hubs like Southern California via cargo ships, trucks, and even airplanes. It’s hard to imagine tiny ants surviving at 30,000 feet, but it’s indeed possible. In our region, there are two foreign species – often called “tramp ants” – that have quickly taken over: Argentine ants and red imported fire ants.

Rather than the invading ants having to adjust to new environments, we’ve already done the work for them, adjusting ourselves with green lawns, food-filled buildings, and interiors with plenty of hiding places. Southern California used to be full of odorous house ants and harvester ants, but now sees Argentine ants outcompete them in crowded cities while red imported fire ants have come to dominate the desert.

In the City: Argentine Ants

Argentine ants may not sting like fire ants, but they make up for it with their overall dominance as a species. The reason they’ve replaced many native ants in our region is because:

• They’re prolific reproducers – Argentine ants are set up to outnumber other ants, with more queens per colony and, thus, more offspring. They take the term “strength in numbers” to a whole new level, often winning physical battles, too.
• They’re not aggressive toward their own – Unlike other ants, Argentine ant colonies work together, often joining forces in one “supercolony.” It’s even rumored that there’s an Argentine supercolony in Southern California.

At Lloyd Pest Control, nearly 95 percent of ant infestations we deal with in the city involve the Argentine species. They’re attracted to overwatered lawns and tropical plants, which offer an environment like their native Amazonian region of South America.

Argentine ants prefer to nest outdoors, looking for places in trees, soil, or under logs. From there, they then trek indoors in search of food, bringing it back to the nest with pheromone trails as their arsenal.

In the Desert: Red Imported Fire Ants

In the Southern California desert (notably, the area stretching from Palm Springs to Coachella), fire ants reign supreme. Two species call the desert home: the native fire ant and the invasive fire ant, also called the red imported fire ant.

Both species crave dry environments – hence, they’re both fond of the desert. But it’s the red imported fire ant that’s more concerning because it’s much more aggressive.

Red imported fire ants’ colonies, like Argentine ant colonies, are bigger than most ant colonies – with populations often numbering in the millions. They live underground, coming to the surface in search of nearby food sources.
Unlike Argentine ants, they spend all their time outdoors, seeking nearby insects, honeydew, and vegetables to satisfy their omnivorous appetite. Be wary of finding the ants near you – their large dirt mound nests are everywhere from backyards to parks to and baseball fields.

A good reason to be wary of fire ants is their stinging ability, which, added to their massive numbers, makes them a big health threat. Taking care of a nest sooner rather than later is key to avoiding a painful encounter.

If threatened, the ants will send out an alarm pheromone, quickly pouring out through the opening of their nest to attack you relentlessly. They don’t sting once, but over and over – there have been instances of people getting stung thousands of times. Ouch!

How to Fight Back Against Ants

While ants are the world’s number one pest nuisance for a reason, there are steps you can take to stop their takeover. To prevent Argentine ants from infesting, do the following:

• Take away the food sources by wiping up crumbs and keeping food in sealed containers.
• Make it harder for them to get indoors by sealing cracks and voids and keeping bushes and trees away from your structure.
• Prevent attracting them to your yard in the first place by not overwatering your lawn.

When it comes to fire ants, there’s not as much you can do to prevent infestations. Fortunately, they’re only found outdoors, so the best thing you can do is keep an eye out for their nests once they pop up. If you spot one on your property, the first thing you should do is call in the professionals for safe ant control.

Professional Ant Control in Southern California

At Lloyd Pest Control, we use two different methods for both Argentine and fire ants: insecticides (for smaller colonies) and baits (for larger colonies). Baits are taken back to the nest by workers, and within a few days, they take down an entire colony – including the queens. Contact us for thorough ant control in Southern California today.

The post How Ants Became Southern California’s Number One Nuisance Pest first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Do Argentine Ants Sting?

In Southern California, the Argentine ant is the most common species. These are the super small fellas that enter our homes in search of food and water. Fortunately for us, they don’t sting.

Argentine ants are, however, relentless killers to other insects. Their organization, overpowering numbers, and ability to displace their enemies are the reasons that odorous house ants – once the dominant ant of our region – have become the minority here. Argentine ants will attack bees, wasps, and even birds, and they won’t stop until their adversary has fled or is destroyed. The one good thing about these ants is they will sometimes attack termite colonies in your home.

Do Fire Ants Sting?

Although they’re nowhere near as common as the Argentine ants, we still have to watch out for fire ants in our region. These guys do sting, and the reaction that results can be fairly painful – so much so, it’s comparable to a bee sting. A fire ant sting will swell, forming a blister within 8-24 hours. This is normal, and can be treated with ice, elevation, and a topical antihistamine. If you experience a more severe allergic reaction, contact emergency medical help.

Fire ants live mostly in small, inland colonies, and can be identified by their reddish-brown color. They don’t create entrances on the tops of their mounds, but enter colonies through the side or underground tunnels. If you find an anthill, do not poke or prod it, because fire ants will attack to protect their home, and they run fast. Unlike bees, fire ants can sting more than once (an even bigger reason to leave them to ant control professionals).

Ant Control to Prevent Stings Once and for All

Don’t let the worry of ant stings stress you out – get them (specifically, fire ants) eliminated before they create concerns for you and your family. Trust in Lloyd Pest Control as your dependable ant control solution in Southern California. We’ll eliminate your ant colony in full, keeping any worry of stings at bay.

The post Do Ants Sting? first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Southern California: A Dastardly Antscape

Before examining what sets each species apart, let’s first examine the origin story of California ants in general.

Along with bees and wasps, ants emerged as a member of the Hymenoptera order. This may seem odd, as ants don’t seem too similar to the other two members on the surface. But, like bees and wasps, ants are social insects. This means they live together in colonies led by queens. In addition, their segmented bodies look like those of the flying, stinging insects, and many ants possess flying and stinging abilities.

The types of weather that most often bring ants indoors are wet winters and hot summers. Dense downpours and scorching heat – both common in Southern California – make the outdoors too harsh for them. To support their colonies, ants often enter homes to seek food and/or shelter. But the habits of each differ by species, and your likelihood of an encounter depends on what your property offers them.

The Notorious Odorous House Ant

Odorous house ants’ villainous characteristics make them hard to escape. They’re clever, hiding in walls and under floors to avoid detection. They’re always at work, foraging for food at all times of the day. To add to that, they crave your food, making them one of the most likely culprits of a home infestation. You may spot them in your kitchen, as they eat what we eat: sugary foods, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and even proteins.

This species of ant got its name from the odor it produces when crushed (many compare it to the smell of rotten coconut). Odorous house ants form massive colonies that often number in the thousands. Given their powers and abundance, you might consider ant baits to eliminate infestations. When worker ants bring the poisonous bait back to their nest, the entire colony is destroyed. But to keep these wrongdoers away for good, the best thing you can do is remove open food sources.

The Invasive Argentine Ant

Picture a supervillain so power-hungry that it eliminates other competing villains. That’s the Argentine ant, who has largely displaced the odorous house ant throughout California. Unlike odorous house ants, Argentine ants prefer to nest outside, coming inside to retrieve food to bring back to their colony. Since they arrived in the US in the late 1800s, these miscre-ants have dominated our state through an enhanced set of superpowers. Their strengths include:

1. Ability to survive in conditions that other ants can’t
2. Destructive tendencies toward other ants
3. High tolerance of neighboring Argentine ant colonies

There’s good reason Argentine ants are considered one of the world’s Top 100 worst animal invaders (#48, to be exact). Not only are they a risk to other ants, but they’re also a risk to the California ecosystem. Because Argentine ants outlast native ants, they endanger plants and insects that need natives to support the local ecology. What’s worse is that our homes tend to really attract this enemy. Sweet foods like syrups and jellies make them swarm kitchens. To best control Argentine ants, baits are employed indoors, while granule or spray treatments are performed to build a perimeter outdoors.

The Destructive Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants’ most notable superpower is their ability to chew through wood. But they don’t eat it like termites do. Instead, they take advantage of their power to tear through the wood and create nests. Carpenter ants build their homes in wooden structures, specifically ones that are moist or hollow. This includes trees, logs, fences, and window frames. If they’re on your property, you might see worker ants foraging for food, or – if you’re listening close enough – even hear a slight crackling sound as they gnaw through wood.

Like many ant species, baits are often effective against carpenter ants. But to keep the frustrating foes away for good, remove rotted wood, tree stumps, and other attractive habitats. This species is known to be more destructive than odorous house ants and Argentine ants, so professional pest control is imperative to limit their damage. Our termite division at Lloyd Pest Control also takes on carpenter ants, which – as wood-destroying organisms – require a separate license and training.

The Threatening Fire Ant

Compared to the other three ant supervillains, fire ants are by far the most aggressive. Be careful when approaching them, as they will use their power to sting if they feel threatened. They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty, and often feed on insects and rodents. Even more frightening is the chance they’ll nest in or under your home. But on most occasions, you’ll spot them nesting in a large, open area like your lawn (look for multiple large dirt mounds).

California fire ants mostly wreak havoc in Riverside and San Bernardino. While they also infest parts of Los Angeles, the closer you live to the desert, the more likely you are to encounter them. Again, baits are an option for self-eradication, but these ants require a slightly different approach. Treat each mound until all ants are knocked out. We use special granule treatments that trick the ants into destroying themselves. Who’s dastardly now?

Stop the Most Heinous Ants with Lloyd Pest Control

Southern California is a haven for ant supervillains. Our homes and businesses offer them everything that they need. Each species has different powers that aid them in their pursuits. Lloyd Pest Control understands their schemes, and our technicians are the heroes standing ready to save the day. If you’re having a problem with ants or another mal-intentioned pest, we’re here to help. With our tried-and-true techniques, we’ll allow you to live in your home without the menace of pests.

For your ant control solutions, get an instant quote or call us at 1-(800) 223-2847.

The post Profiling California’s Least Wanted: Ants first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

The Drought: A Quick Recap

California suffered quite the dry spell in 2011 – one that lasted until earlier this year. It was so bad that in 2013, our state received the lowest rainfall we’ve ever recorded. The effects were devastating: lakes dried up, trees died, and the produce industry declined. You probably recall our state’s order to reduce water consumption by 25 percent a few years back.

The drought had major effects on pest activity. Because of the lack of sustenance in agricultural regions, pests – insects and rodents alike – began moving toward cities to survive. That’s where they sought out a friendlier environment. Pests were attracted to buildings with sources of food and water, and for some, a place to cool off as well. If you saw more pests around your home the past few years, the drought could be to blame.

Recent events have created a perfect storm for pests. While the drought-stricken desert pushed pests toward urban areas, other factors attracted them as well. The reduction in water usage – specifically from lawn sprinklers, hoses, and outdoor pools – also forced them indoors to seek moisture. In addition, tree deaths from fungal infections became common, urging pests to seek shade and fruit elsewhere.

The End of the Drought: Now What?

The drought has officially ended, but our state’s typically high temperatures aren’t set to change anytime soon. In recent years, summer heat has reached far above the regional average in Southern California – and that’s bad news for property owners. Pests looking for a cooler, darker alternative to the weather will continue to seek indoor habitats. Add that to the state’s recovering dry spell, and we should expect pest activity to persist.

The Return of the Summer Pests

Many pests are already active during the summer, and recent conditions continue to encourage their presence. Rats, mosquitoes, bees, and ants are four of the most common warm weather pests, and they seek shelter in or around homes due to the heat. Here’s what attracted each them during the drought and what continues to attract them afterward:

1. Rats: Like us, rats are mammals and need water to survive. Due to the harsh climate, they’ve been searching for cooler escapes with more moisture. While they don’t fly like other pests, they have sharp teeth that allow them to tear through siding and walls to get indoors. In addition, they’re excellent climbers – roof rats, especially – and they can scour the outside of your house for openings.

2. Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes seek water as a breeding ground rather than for consumption. Unlike rats, they prefer the heat. That makes outdoor features like pools and fountains hotspots for mosquitoes. During the drought, they flocked to urban California to find standing water. As one of the most common summer insects, mosquitoes are increasingly a problem due to the warm temperatures and abundance of water sources in the city.

3. Bees: Bees’ diets consist of two things: nectar and pollen. Since plants wilt without water, bees are another pest that migrated in large numbers to find nourishment during the drought. Following the drought, bees remain prevalent in green urban areas. If you have flowers that bloom during the summer, especially if it’s a full flowerbed, don’t be surprised if you encounter bees or even a nearby hive at some point.

4. Ants: The top reason for ant infestations is access to food and water, and this motivated them during the drought as well. Many species of ants moved toward homes to support the existence of their colonies. While they often favor the heat, their search for sustenance is enough to keep them coming back to kitchens and bathrooms.

Strategies to Combat Summertime Infestations

The California drought is over, and life is going back to normal for you and your family. But with our region’s hot and dry weather tendencies, pests are sure to come knocking. Their presence is frustrating, as summer should be a time for leisure and relaxation. Still, there are many steps you can take to stop them in their tracks.

Natural pesticides and traps are a solid pest elimination option, but remember that they don’t do anything for prevention. Also, if possible, they should be avoided when dealing with bees due to their dwindling numbers. Here are a few ways you can combat summer pests from the get-go:

• Drive away bees and mosquitoes: Limit the presence of outdoor water and plant sources that attract bees and mosquitoes. Introduce plants like lemongrass and feverfew that repel mosquitoes, and place peppermint and cinnamon near your outdoor plants to repel bees.
• Keep out rats and ants: Eliminate food and water sources rats and ants crave (i.e. open containers, spills, and dripping faucets), and clean behind fridges or other places they’re likely to hide. Seal home entrance points and make sure they can’t enter through windows or doors.
• Eliminate persisting infestations: If problems linger, or you’d prefer professionals handle them, contact us at Lloyd Pest Control.
  

  

Lloyd Pest Control’s Approach to Warm Weather Pests

Pests are typically most active during summer months. Many of them enjoy the warm weather and settle in backyards where they’re able to raise a colony. Others prefer the indoors, as they hope to find refuge, food, and water. While the five-plus year drought in California is over, pests aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact, they have plenty of reasons to stick around.

At Lloyd Pest Control, we have what it takes to force warm weather pests out. Our experience and pest-specific solutions will eliminate pests from your Southern California property for good. Regardless of which pest is plaguing your summer, Lloyd Pest Control is here to help. Get an instant quote or call us at 1-(800) 223-2847.

The post The Great Pest Migration: A Consequence of Drought and Heat first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Some ants protect their nests with their heads

Aside from being able to carry objects 50 times their own body weight, ants display another behavior that is quite spectacular. head to protect its colony from unwanted guests.

Ants use to live alongside the dinosaurs over 130 million years ago. Fossilized evidence of ants and other insects have been found in lumps of amber, or plant resin.

Termites are less dirty than you might think

Termites, though they can be disastrous to your home, are actually a benefit to the environment. Termites are vital to earth’s decomposition of tough plant fibers. But that’s not what’s so cool about these pests.

Much of a termite’s life is spent cleaning other termites in the colony!

Bacteria and fungal infections can make quick work of termite colonies, which is why they spend such a great deal of time grooming each other to keep the colony clean. A termite’s antennae enable the termite to detect infections while they clean.

Bed bugs hide before you know they’ve bitten you

Over the past few years bed bugs have grown as a menace throughout Southern California and the entire country.

Bed bugs inject anti-coagulants and anesthetics into your skin so they can feed and hide before you even know they are around. The bed bug’s saliva acts as an anesthetic thus masking the bite and increasing the speed of the feeding process.

Spiders limbs work like that of a machine

While it’s true that almost every spider in the world is venomous, most spiders teeth are either too small or lack the potency of venom to harm people. But it’s not just the fangs and the venom that scare people. Spiders have a strange way of moving, which, as it turns out isn’t that different, mechanically speaking, than the more familiar movement of a common construction site excavator.

Spiders can control blood pressure in their limbs using a combination of hemolymph (arthropod blood) and extensor muscles located in the three hip joints, which allows them to move, and even jump in the case of jumping spiders.

Bees will create a new queen from existing larvae

Often, the only silver lining to a bee sting is the assumed knowledge that after a single sting, the bee dies.  The truth, however, is that honeybees don’t always die after stinging something. A bee stinger may become caught in a human’s skin but many other surfaces anima skins are more forgiving and will endure multiple stings without harm to the bee itself.

But despite all this seemingly violent behavior, bees are extraordinarily community driven. As a queen bee dies, she emits a pheromone that will cause worker bees to immediately create a new queen from existing larvae.

Fleas and brushes have something in common

Your dog or cat may disagree, but the flea is quite a magnificent creature. Not only can a flea jump 8-10 inches vertically (making it one of the best jumpers of any animal, relative to body size), and not only can the flea’s hard body withstand incredible pressure, but the common flea is in some ways similar to the common hair.

 The flea’s body is covered with hard plates called Sclerites. In the same why that a hair brush is designed to easily part the hair on your head, the flea’s hard body plates (called Sclerites) have hairs that point away from its head allowing it to easily crawl through your dog or cat’s fur.

Cockroaches just want to be loved…sort of

You may know that cockroaches can live for weeks without their heads, but did you know that they like to be touched? Cockroaches are thigmotropic, which means they like solid objects coming in contact with their bodies.

Despite how interesting these pests may be, they can be damaging to our home and health. That’s where Lloyd Pest Control comes in. Our elimination service covers Southern California with more than 200 radio-dispatched trucks, 200 licensed technicians, supervisors, a Quality Control staff, an entomologist, and a biologist. For more information about each of these pests and their eradication, contact Lloyd Pest Control today at 1.800.223.2847.

The post 7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pests first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Creatures were stirring, including a mouse
Neither of us had a clue how they got here
Our house is infested I told my dear
The children were awake stirring in their beds
While visions of spiders danced in their heads
When out in the room there was a pitter patter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter
The tree was crawling with insects below
A Christmas tree can have pests but how could I know
More rapid than cheetahs the ants they came
And marched to the kitchen in search of sugar cane
To the top of the ceiling! To the top of the wall!
How on earth could I get rid of them all!
What could I possibly have done differently?

Lloyd Pest Control

When buying a tree you should check for bugs and shake gently
Bring a flashlight to the lot in order to see
That no insects have infested the greenery
These few simple things are easy to do
And will help to prevent pests from bugging you
The bugs on the tree are seldom harmful
But exposed food in your house will make it an armful
So be careful to check the tree before you buy
Because a tree full of bugs might make you cry
We hope you have a joyous Holiday Season
A house without pests is a wonderful reason
To Celebrate
The Holiday

Happy Holidays from Lloyd Pest Control

Click here for a humorous post titled “Should I worry about bugs in my Christmas tree?”

The post above is an adaptation of the original work “Twas the night before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore

The post Twas the night before Christmas first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

Here at Lloyd Pest Control, we are always on the lookout for news and discussions about our favorite topic – pests! Recently, we came across a podcast that outlines the history of the Argentine Ant. We can thank a steamboat out of Buenos Aires in the 1890’s for transporting them to Louisiana and then the great advancement of cross-country trains to land them in California by 1907.

Argentine Ants are an invasive species. Their strategy is simple: kill anything that isn’t one of us. Argentine Ants have managed to do just that. The super colony they have created spans every continent except Antarctica.

During the podcast, David Howay, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist from UC San Diego takes you to a driveway in Escondido, California where he demonstrates the nasty and loyal habits of the Argentine Ant.

The post The Journey of Argentine Ants first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

How to Identify Fire Ants:

• Fire ants vary in size ranging from 1/16^th of an inch to 1/5^th of an inch in length.
• Fire ants have a dark reddish-brown hue
• These insects build dirt mounds that can eclipse 12 inches in height and diameter, stretching up to 5 feet below the soil!

Behavior “The Telltale Signs”:

• Fire ants are very aggressive and territorial in regard to their colony
• One way to determine if a mound houses fire ants is by taking a long object and stirring the soil nearby with extreme caution. If they fervently climb or “attack” the object, they are most likely fire ants.

Are Fire Ants Harmful?

• Fire ants possess venom that causes your skin to swell into a bump
• Stings often bring a burning sensation, hence the name “fire ant”

How to Treat a Fire Ant Sting:

• When stung, elevate the affected area and keep it clean
• Do not scratch the irritated area because this may lead to infection.
• Some individuals are highly allergic to venom. If you are stung and experience chest pain, nausea, loss of breath, or other severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Why and Where are They in my Yard?

• Fire ants feed on sprouting seeds or plants, tiny or dead animals, as well as damaged plant life.
• They can often be found near moist areas, under boulders, brick piles, and woodpiles.

How to Prevent Fire Ants

Being a potentially harmful invader, these ants are a fire you don’t want to mess with. If you see a  mound on your property, contact your local ant control company to professionally eradicate these relentless colonial dwellers.

If you are a resident of Southern California and suspect a fire ant infestation in your yard, contact Lloyd Pest Control to recommend a course of treatment.

The post How to Prevent and Treat Fire Ants first appeared on Lloyd Pest Control.

A recent study of pest professionals, conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has revealed that ants are the number one nuisance pest in the United States and often become a problem during the warmer months as they venture indoors to look for food.

Unfortunately, ants are more than just a household annoyance. Ants can pose health risks and cause extensive property damage once inside the home.

Odorous ants are known to contaminate food sources and carpenter ants can tunnel through wood to build nests inside structures. Luckily, a mixture of integrated pest management tactics can effectively prevent and manage most infestations.

We recommend the following tips to avoid ant infestations:

1. Eliminate sources of moisture or standing water near a home.
2. Keep tree branches and other shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house.
3. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home.
4. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches from the ground.
5. Keep food in sealed containers and dispose of garbage regularly.
6. Keep pet food and water dishes clean and remove any spilled food.

And the biggest ant issue in Southern California?  The invasive Argentine ants which have displaced almost all others, taking over underground ant colonies – and above ground people homes – in greater numbers each year for the past decade.

If you suspect an ant infestation, contact Lloyd Pest Control

to identify the species and recommend a course of treatment. For more information, please visit https://www.lloydpest.com/ants/

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