There are over 113 different ant species in Michigan, yielding more than 12,000 world wide.  Ant colonies can be quite large with a queen that can live for many years and produce millions of larvae.  Ants can leave a scent that will mark the trail of where they have been so they may find their way back.  Carpenter ants are the largest and most common in Michigan, but there are a few other species that can become an infestation in your home.  To name a few there are Acrobatic Ants, Little Black Ants, Pavement Ants, Pharaoh Ants, and Odorous House Ants.

We recommend keeping your home free and clear of food sources to help prevent infestations:  wash away any spills as soon as you notice them, sweep or vacuum up any food crumbs regularly, remove your garbage from inside your home frequently, and clean dirty dishes often.  These will help remove the ants' food source.  These instances also help to prevent Carpenter Ants, to further assist fending off an infestation: seal any holes and cracks you may find around your home, keep any plants and shrubs trimmed away from the house, store firewood off the ground, and remove any rotted or infested wood.

Most ants only cause a minor inconvenience, and risk contaminating your food.  Carpenter Ant infestations are the most problematic; they can cause serious damage to your home and landscape.  Unlike termites they will not eat the wood, but tunnel through the wood to create their home.  As the colony gets larger the amount of wood that they clear out gets to be more and more.  This can lead to costly repairs for any homeowner.  They tend to be most attracted to water damaged and decomposing wood.