Ant identification can begin several ways — with a call from a prospective or current customer, with a sample brought in by a technician or from a certain level of curiosity while spending time outside. Whatever the reason you’ve been called to solve an ant problem, remember a correct identification can lead to a better and more thorough resolution. I prefer identification techniques that are simple and easy enough to do quickly in the field. Size, color and trailing behavior are basic characteristics that can help narrow species choices. It’s important to be familiar with the species active in the regions you’re servicing, as well as how time of day and year affect the level of ant activity you might encounter.
Size and color characteristics are self-explanatory. I also take into account each species’ trailing and harborage traits when devising an effective treatment strategy. If an ant is primarily arboreal (prefers to hang out in trees), you’re most likely to find it trailing upward on a structure near the eaves, which is where you should place the product you’ve chosen for treatment. On the other hand, if your species is more of a ground-nesting variety, you might find more activity near the foundation and associated with entry points closer to the ground. Exploit these traits when creating your treatment strategy. Let the ants’ behavior help guide your strategy and product placement.
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