54 in 100 homeowners surveyed by NPMA* in 2011 say that ants is their number one concern.**
54 % of participating pest control professionals from a survey funded by Professional Pest Management Association say that ant infestations are currently on the rise throughout United States. **
Top 3 Invaders
Although there are over 300 species of ants that are named and identified in the United States, only about a dozen or so are found infesting homes or businesses on a regular basis. Here are the three ants most often treated by pest professionals.
- Carpenter (66%) – The most common home invader in the US is the black carpenter ant. These ants are capable of causing structural damage to homes. They don’t eat wood but they excavate wood to create galleries.
- Odorous (62%) – Odorous ants are indeed odorous! These ants smell like rotten coconut when crushed.
- Pavement (59%) – These ants are found in all states of the country
Structures Commonly Invaded by Ants**
- Office Buildings – 88%
- Restaurants – 83%
- Apartments & Condominiums – 82%
- Single Family Homes – 80%
- Nursing Homes – 70%
- Schools – 58%
- College Dorms – 34%
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*National Pest Management Association
**Data from “Exploring America’s #1 Nuisance Pest” which was conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Dr. Laurel Hansen.
***Data from 2010 Pest Control Attitudes and Usage Survey which was conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA)