Acrobat Ants in Spring Lake, NJ

Recently, I went on a service call for a homeowner in Spring Lake, NJ who was having an issue with ants in their home. As I began my inspection, I discovered ants trailing along the edge of the carpet in the living room. I identified these ants as acrobat ants. Acrobat ants are slightly longer than 1/8 of an inch and vary in color from yellowish brown to dark brown. These ants are aggressive and territorial. They have a stinger, emit a foul odor when threatened, and are quick to bite. Their name comes from the way the worker ants carry their abdomens above the rest of their body as if they were performing a balancing act. 

For treatment, I applied a gel-based product along their trail. The ants mistake this product as food and bring it back to their nest. They’ll then transfer the product to the other members of the colony, including the reproductive ant queen. In a short amount of time, the colony is eliminated. I treated along all the interior baseboards in the room and around the fireplace. Then went outside to inspect the exterior for any trailing ants. Although I didn’t find any signs of acrobat ants along the exterior, I applied a liquid non-repellant application along the underside of the shingles. Finally, I scheduled a two-week follow-up inspection to monitor the acrobat ant infestation and apply any additional treatment methods.