Over the weekend I found them active as usual once I picked up a few pieces of wood.  Under one piece I found some that were quite large – probably among the largest ones I have seen.  This got me to thinking, how dangerous are these guys (or in truth – ‘gals’) really?

Although they are greatly feared by Western homeowners, this colony has lived in my backyard for at least the last seven years and I have never seen a trace of them in my home.  After reading a bit about them, I even went outside late at night a few times to see if I could find any activity.  As they are nocturnal, that is the best time to see what they are up to.

There are a number of precautions that you can take to minimize the possibility of damage.

- There are several chemicals that you can spray around the perimeter of your home.  As ants go on scents, there is a good deal of evidence that they can be effective.

- Make sure no plants touch your house.  This is the easiest way for them to get access to your home.

  Supposedly these ants can bite, though I have not put my finger out to test this out.  They certainly look the part, but for the most part are quite docile.  I have sat down with them crawling around me and have never once been bitten.

It will be a sad day when I eventually have to get rid of the colony, as though I certainly don’t mind them someone else will likely differ.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.