Types Of Ants In Shreveport

Nuisance Ants vs. Destructive Ants

When it comes to pest control distinctions, there are two major types of ants: Nuisance ants and destructive ants. Their names make the two fairly self-explanatory. 

Nuisance ants are annoying, but they don’t cause any serious harm. They may invade your home and contaminate some of your food, but they aren’t known to spread diseases or damage property.

Destructive ants, like carpenter ants, can cause actual damage to your home, particularly when they nest in wood or other structural materials. While they’re not necessarily dangerous to your health, the damage they create can become costly over time if left unchecked.

Neither type is great to have indoors, but destructive ants are worth a closer look since their presence might point to bigger issues down the line.

Common Ant Species in Shreveport 

Many ant species exist in Shreveport and throughout Louisiana, but some are more likely to appear in and around homes than others. Below is a quick guide to the most common types and whether they’re considered nuisance or destructive ants.

Argentine Ants

Argentine ants are small ants that can be brown or black. They live in large colonies that often have multiple queens and multiple nests. Argentine ants get indoors in search of food or water. They like to nest in moist areas near a consistent food source and often get indoors during changes in the weather. Despite their large colonies making them challenging to control, Argentine ants are nuisance ants because they don’t cause property damage or health issues.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large, red or black ants that nest in wood. They are destructive ants because they chew through wooden structures to build their nests and tunnels, weakening them over time. 

Fire Ants

Fire ants are small, reddish ants that typically stay outdoors rather than invade homes. They’re commonly found in yards, building large, noticeable mounds. While they may seem harmless at first, fire ants can sting, and their stings are anything but pleasant. If their mound is disturbed, they respond aggressively, swarming in large numbers and delivering multiple painful stings to anything they perceive as a threat.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are small brown ants that thrive indoors and enjoy hot, humid weather. They often move into hospitals, nursing homes, and restaurants, spreading pathogens that can jeopardize health. 

Rover Ants

Rover ants are small and range in color from light brown to black. They’re known for nesting just about anywhere—inside or outside—often finding their way indoors while foraging for food. Attracted to sweets, rover ants are considered nuisance ants due to their tendency to show up in kitchens and pantries rather than cause structural damage.

Why Ants Are a Year-Round Issue in Shreveport

Summer is the peak ant season in our area, thanks to the warm, humid weather in which ants thrive. During this time, ant activity is at its highest indoors and out.

In contrast, winter tends to bring a noticeable drop in outdoor ant activity. However, ants may stay active year-round, particularly if they’re indoors. This can be especially concerning if it's carpenter ants, as they will continue damaging wood structures even through the colder months.

Ant Prevention Tips

Whether they’re nuisance ants or the more destructive kind, keeping ants out of your home is key to maintaining a comfortable living space. Use the following tips to help prevent an ant infestation:

• Seal cracks and entry points around windows, doors, and your home’s foundation.
• Keep food in airtight containers and clean up spills promptly.
• Eliminate standing water and reduce excess moisture, especially around your foundation and in areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Trim vegetation and remove mulch or debris close to your home.
• Check regularly for signs of ant activity, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and crawl spaces.

DIY Ant Control vs. Professional Solutions

When homeowners discover ants indoors, the first instinct is often to grab some ant traps and hope for the best. Unfortunately, over-the-counter solutions rarely eliminate the problem entirely. DIY ant control typically offers only a surface-level fix, failing to address the root cause or exterminate the entire colony.

Another common issue with DIY methods is using the wrong type of treatment. Different ant species are drawn to other kinds of bait, so your efforts may be ineffective if you don’t know which type of ant you’re dealing with.

Professional ant control starts with a detailed inspection to identify the ant species and how and where they get inside. From there, targeted treatments address the colony at its source, helping ensure the ants don’t return.

How Anti-Pest Can Help

Anti-Pest is a local, family-operated business that has proudly served homes and businesses in Shreveport and the surrounding areas for over 75 years. With deep knowledge of Louisiana's ant species, decades of hands-on experience, and ongoing training, we deliver ant control solutions tailored to your situation.

Our team performs detailed inspections, creates customized treatment plans, and applies effective solutions to get rid of ants in and around your home. We also offer year-round home pest control services to help prevent future infestations of ants and other nuisance and potentially damaging pests.

Contact Anti-Pest for Ant Control Today

If ants have entered your home, don’t wait to take action. Anti-Pest provides fast, effective solutions to identify and eliminate the problem. Whether you’re dealing with nuisance ants or more damaging species, our customized services will take care of the issue. Contact us today to request your inspection.