Maryland: A Great Place for Visitors

Maryland is a place where visitors come in droves during the summer to experience the many fascinating ‘you-don't-want-to-miss’ places that our great state has to offer. Places along the Chesapeake Bay like Fort McHenry, Annapolis, Smith Island, and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, or things to see by bus tour like the Columbia Archives or In the Footsteps of John Brown's Raid. There are also places such as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, Antietam National Battlefield and the beautiful Assateague State Park. Yes, without a doubt, Maryland is a place people love to visit during the summer months. But do you know who else loves to visit Maryland in the summer? Ants! Well, technically, they are already here; but this is when they become active.

Yup. Ants get quite active during the summer months in Maryland. And like human visitors, some are no problem, some might be a nuisance, and others can be downright dangerous. This article will focus on common ants found in this region of the country and what you can do to keep them from invading your home or business.

What are ants?

Ants live in communities and rely completely on each other for survival. They tend to live underground in nests where there can be tens of thousands in a single colony. There are an estimated 14,000 ant species around the world, but only a few tend to visit Maryland homes and cause problems.

Pavement Ants: These are tiny creatures, about ⅛ of an inch in length. Volcano-like mounds are indications of their underground nests. These can typically be found between the cracks and crevices of pavement and landscape pavers. If they infest buildings they are usually just a nuisance.

Odorous House Ants: These are also tiny, 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch in length, and are easy to identify. If you crush them, they emit an odor similar to the smell of rotten coconuts. These are not something you want invading your home!

Carpenter Ants: These are our largest, native ant species with the queen measuring up to 1 inch in length. Carpenter ants burrow into the wood of homes and, if left untreated, can cause significant damage over time weakening support structures and leaving discarded debris. Although not as destructive as termites, they are the most destructive ant species.

What can you do to keep ants out?

There are several steps you can take to keep ants out of your Maryland home or business. Keeping things free from food particles and sources of moisture is a big help. Sealing garbage cans is also helpful. And sealing up the outside of your building will help keep ants from squeezing in through tiny cracks, but the best way to keep unwanted ant visitors from entering your home or business is to contact a pest control company. Often, do-it-yourself methods for ant control fall short, but American Pest has the equipment, experience, and trained pest technicians to seal out, and keep out, unwanted visitors. Don't spend another moment worrying about household pests. Reach out to American Pest so you can get back to visiting all the fascinating places Maryland has to offer in the summer.