Earlier this month we reported on the New York State ant invasion. Mostly this take over consisted of your run-of-the-mill black ants but now their cousins are moving in. What are Thief Ants and what are they trying to steal?

According to the pest control specialists at Orkin, one of the most common reasons that ants will enter your home is food. Ants will invade your home for food crumbs, unemptied garbage or unsealed food containers. Thief ants are not much different. They enter your home looking for greasy foods, breads, fruits and sweets.

Q 105.7 logo
Get our free mobile app

Over the last week I was in my kitchen when I noticed my butter dish was dirty. On a closer look, the dish wasn't dirty from food splatter or fingerprints, it was dirty because the stick and the glass case were covered with thief ants!

Thief ants are so small I'm not sure I would have noticed them if they weren't moving around. According to Pest World, these bugs got their name, not from stealing your butter, but from stealing food for the nests of other ants. These guys are the jerks of the ant community.

Photo by VINAY GUPTA on Unsplash
Photo by VINAY GUPTA on Unsplash
loading...

If you see them in your home, check your cabinets, openings in walls, behind baseboards and underneath countertops. That's where you are likely to find their nests. The best way to get rid of thief ants might be to hire a professional but there are simple home remedies you might want to try first. Here are a few;

  • Eliminate all access to food
  • Fix any utilities that may be causing a leak
  • Seal up cracks and crevices

50 Fantastic Facts About New York State

From America's Smallest Town to the birthplace of the potato chip, here are 50 fun and fantastic facts about New York State. Scroll through to see how many of these you already knew.

Gallery Credit: Karolyi

LOOK - 10 Biggest Malls In America

These malls are so big they can accommodate shops, movies and even rollercoasters. These are the 10 Biggest Malls in America according to Geeks for Geeks.

Gallery Credit: Karolyi

Caught Speeding In New York

Do Radar Speed Signs actually help to slow the speed of drivers? Not for these New York drivers. Each of the following vehicles were spotted going between 10mph to 15mph over the speed limit on a residential street in the Capital Region of New York.

Gallery Credit: Karolyi

 

More From Q 105.7