Unlike some of the other pests that we discuss and deal with, ants in North Carolina aren’t known to carry diseases. You have probably dealt with ants in some capacity since your childhood, but many people don’t realize that these tiny insects can cause a lot of damage to your home.

If you have recently seen a few ants in your house, this can be an indicator to a much larger problem. The first step in exterminating a colony of ants from your home is distinguishing what species is invading. In this article, we will use our experience in pest control to help our readers identify the types of ants in North Carolina that they might encounter.

Acrobat Ants

Acrobat ants’ name derives from their ability to press their stomach (or thorax) over their head. They will normally do this to shield themselves from predators. Out of all the types of ants in North Carolina, they are among the least concerns for your home. They are known to bite people if you disturb their colony. Most people imagine black bugs when they think of ants, but the acrobat ant ranges from light brown all the way to black. They will grow up to ⅛” inch and have a heart shaped abdomen.

Argentine Ants

The Argentine ants that you find in North Carolina are actually an invasive species. If you couldn’t tell from their name, they are native to South America; specifically Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil. This species is normally shiny with dark brown to black shades of exoskeleton. Their bodies are oval and segmented, extending from 1/16” to ¼” long.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are the most destructive species on our list of types of ants in North Carolina. They get their name from their nest building method, excavating tunnels in the wood of your home. Unlike termites, the carpenter ant tunnels are notably smooth. They are also the largest ant that you’ll encounter in North Carolina reaching up to ⅝” in length with red to black colored bodies. Their colonies can also grow up to 50,000 ants-strong so it is imperative to address the problem immediately.

Little Black Ants

Little black ants are most common during the warm weather of summertime, typically found along sidewalks. You can also find them in wooded areas, nested under rocks and rotting logs. This species is the smallest in our list of types of ants in North Carolina, reaching 1/16” long. They feed on grease, oil, meats, fruit, vegetables, and other insects.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants get their name from their method of building nests too. They are found in or under the cracks of pavement and ground level masonry within cities. They are on the smaller side, only growing up to ⅛” long and have segmented oval bodies as well. These ants do not pose an immediate risk to humans or pets, but are known to contaminate food they come in contact with.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants get their name from the smell they secrete when they get stepped on. Many people suggest that it smells like rotten coconut. These are also a tiny species ranging from 1/16” to ⅛” long. These insects are brown or black, normally feeding on sweet fruits like honeydews.

As mentioned earlier, it is important to address all ant infestations as soon as possible. Some are destructive to your home, while others can contaminate your food. Either way, there’s no reason to have a colony of ants living in your home when a pest control specialist like Bugg Busters is just a call away. If you notice any signs of ants in your home, contact a Bugg Busters professional immediately to discuss a proper course of removal.

Identifying and Getting Rid of Roaches in North Carolina

Seeing a cockroach crawl across the floor is enough to send anyone on top of the countertop. These common insects are not only a pest, but can attract other critters into your home. You will commonly find them where there is moisture or a food source, meaning the bathroom, kitchen, or other living areas. Before you decide to burn your house down to the ground, there are simple steps you can take to remove and prevent further infestations. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about identifying and getting rid of roaches in North Carolina.

Most Common Roaches in North Carolina

American Cockroach

American cockroaches are the largest species in the United States, and unfortunately one of the most common species of roaches in North Carolina. They are typically a reddish brown with a pattern resembling the number eight on the back of their head. These bugs have six legs and are typically between 1 ¼” to 2 ⅛” long.

German Cockroach

German cockroaches are actually the most common species found in the world. They are often associated with mass food production like restaurants, manufacturing facilities, hotels, and nursing homes. These nasty insects are normally light brown to tan with two parallel stripes on their back. The German cockroach is smaller than the American cockroach, hovering between ½” to ⅝” long.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

Brown-banded cockroaches, similar to the German cockroach, are relatively small. They measure around ½” in length and can be identified by the two light brown bands across their dark brown body. These cockroaches actually originated from Cuba, only entering the United States through Florida in 1903. Brown-banded cockroaches live for about 206 days and reproduce at a frightening rate.

Brown-Hooded Cockroach

Unlike the other cockroaches in this blog, the Brown-hooded Cockroach prefers to be outside in wooded areas vs. your home. Their size ranges from ⅘” to 1 ¼” in length and they have a dark brown to black color. These cockroaches do not have wings and will normally be found towards the western side of North Carolina near the Appalachian Mountains.

Oriental Cockroach

The Oriental Cockroach actually originates from Africa and are commonly referred to as “waterbugs.” They will normally access your home through gaps in house siding and underneath doors. Sometimes they also will follow pipes and sewers, entering through drains. The Oriental Cockroach can be identified by their shiny black color and smooth body. They will only grow to 1” long and are commonly found further north.+

What Attracts Roaches in North Carolina?

What attracts a cockroach really depends on which species it is, but they (like all pests) are searching for food and water. This is not the case with every cockroach, but most are attracted to warm, dark, moist spots in your home. You will normally find them scamper across the floor when you switch on the lights. Most roaches in North Carolina are attracted to:

• Dirty dishes
• Standing water
• Crumbs of food
• Garbage
• Basement moisture
• Pet food

How to Get Rid of Roaches in North Carolina?

Remove Entry Ways to Your Home

The first step in the removal process is identifying where the cockroaches have entered in the first place. Wiping out the entire population is just a temporary fix as cockroaches in North Carolina are persistent and will come back. You should mainly search with a flashlight behind the fridge, under the sink, crevices in cabinets, and closet door corners. You can even use glue strips to determine where the main population can be found. Then fill gaps and entry points between walls, tile, and small crevices. Lastly, ensure that all doors and windows are properly sealed.

Utilize Gel Bait Stations

Once you’ve identified where the roaches are, you can use gel bait that normally comes in tubes to drastically reduce the infestation. You will want to apply the gel under baseboards and in the crevices that you identified. You can also purchase roach-killing poison from the store. They will head back to the population and die, where more roaches will feed on them and succumb to the poison.

Boric Acid Powder

Boric acid is commonly found in detergents and toothpastes, but when used improperly can harm pets and children. Air currents can blow the powder into the air and be dangerous for the family. Bugg Busters recommends using boric acid powder in tandem with other methods as it will not be strong enough to be effective by itself.

After utilizing the above methods or wanting to get it done quickly and efficiently, you can hire a Bugg Busters specialist to treat the cockroach infestation. We are based near Charlotte, North Carolina and are well versed in exterminating roaches in the state. We’ll remove the population from your home and prevent future infestations.