Ant Infestation in Your Long Island Home: Causes and Solutions

Ant infestations are the most common pest complaint Latin American Exterminating receives from Nassau County homeowners, particularly in spring and early summer when ant colonies begin their foraging season. Long Island's three most common ant species each require different treatment strategies — and homeowners who don't know which species they're dealing with often fail to achieve lasting control.

Nassau County's Three Most Common Ant Species

Carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) are Nassau County's most serious ant pest. These large, typically black ants don't eat wood like termites — instead, they excavate it to create nesting galleries. A mature carpenter ant colony can contain 3,000-10,000 workers and multiple satellite nests connected to the main colony. Nassau County communities with significant tree cover — Syosset, Port Washington, Great Neck, Manhasset, Old Westbury, and the North Shore Gold Coast communities — have particularly high carpenter ant pressure. Signs of carpenter ant activity include large black ants (1/4 to 1/2 inch) foraging at night, sawdust-like frass near wood structures, and occasional swarmers in spring.

Pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) are small (1/10 inch), dark brown ants that form colonies under pavement, concrete slabs, and foundation elements throughout Nassau County. They're extremely common along Nassau County's residential streets, entering homes through expansion joints in concrete and gaps around pipes. Their characteristic behavior of foraging in trails between the nest and food sources makes them easy to identify.

Odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) are tiny (1/16 inch) dark brown ants that emit a characteristic coconut-like odor when crushed. They form large colonies with multiple queens and are particularly challenging to control because they readily move their nests in response to disturbance. Nassau County homeowners often find them trailing from the yard into kitchens in spring and summer.

Why DIY Ant Control Usually Fails

Over-the-counter ant sprays create a chemical barrier that breaks trails and kills exposed foragers — temporarily. Worker ants are sacrificial; the colony simply reroutes around sprayed areas and continues expanding. For carpenter ants in particular, spraying the visible trail does nothing to address the satellite nest that may be established inside wall voids or structural wood.

Bait is more effective than spray for most ant species, but consumer baits often aren't palatable to the specific species present. Carpenter ants, for example, require both protein-based and sugar-based baits at different times of year depending on their current nutritional needs.

Professional Ant Control: The Right Approach

Effective ant control for Nassau County homes starts with species identification. Our technicians identify the ant, locate the foraging trails and colony source, and apply the appropriate treatment — whether that's targeted bait along active trails, residual perimeter treatment at the foundation, or void treatment for carpenter ant satellite nests inside the structure.

For carpenter ant infestations, we locate and treat satellite nests inside the structure as well as the exterior main colony. We also provide exclusion recommendations to address the wood moisture conditions that attract carpenter ants to begin with.