Exterminators in Neptune, NJ

While performing a service for a homeowner under one of our Home Protection Plans in Neptune, NJ, I found several foraging ants entering the house. As part of our residential service plans, which cover the treatment of dozens of common household pests, we schedule periodic inspections and preventatively treat the exterior perimeter. As I took a closer look, I immediately identified these ants as pavement ants. Pavement ants are small ants about 1/8 of an inch long and are dark brown to black. Their name comes from nesting under sidewalks and driveways.  The ants also nest under stones, logs, boards, patio blocks, and other items lying on top of the ground. A tell-tale sign of these ants are little mounds of dirt piles formed from the ants building their underground nests. 

The pavement ants were trailing along the bottom of the foundation and entering beneath a window in the brick wall. The homeowners told me that they had just begun to see ants in their kitchen, so this was perfect timing for our service! Ants will start to seek out food and water once the ground temperature warms up. After a long winter of dormancy, the ants are starving – and they are relentless in their hunt for food. They send out scouts to seek out food and water, and once they find food they send out a pheromone signal that alerts others of the “bounty.”  I’ve seen ants trailing over 100 yards from a tree stump into a house! Considering their size, it is an amazing pathway, and bring the meaning of determination to a whole new level.

A highly effective way to resolve the infestation is to apply a light liquid application onto their trail as well as where they are entering the structure. This application is designed to keep the ants alive long enough to carry it back to their colony where they transfer it to other members from feeding and grooming. As disgusting as this may sound, ants will eat other dead ants. This process of transfer is what we call the transfer effect. 

Within two weeks, the ant population should be completely gone. We have products that are designed for complete colony elimination. The DIY sprays often just kill foraging ants and does not offer a permanent solution to these challenging infestations. These homeowners were quite pleased with our servicing. It’s hard to think of anything worse to ruin your morning than ants coming out of your coffee pot. Certainly, these clients didn’t think so!