Ants...Answers to your Questions!

Sometimes it best to get back to the basics. Below are some of the questions our customers ask when they call us about an ant infestation.

1. What causes ants to come into the house? - Answer: Worker ants are looking for a food source. They travel everywhere and like to live close to where they find food.


2. Why do ants only surface just before my social events? - Answer: Most likely the social event involves food or drink which is attractive to ants.


3. If I have ants - is that a sign of termite activity? Answer: No, but it does not mean you do not have termites either.


4. What is the difference between an ant and a termite? Answer: Ants have distinct segments on their bodies or a pinched waist, termites do not.


5. Do ants bite?...Are they harmful? Answer: Some ants can sting but very few are harmful. It is best not to handle any insect unless you are informed.


6. What are the different types of ants that I will find in my area? Answer: Pavement ants, odorous house ants, pharaoh ants, field ants, carpenter ants, citronella ants, little black ants, and velvet ants are most common here. The velvet ant is actually a wasp and should be avoided because it can deliver a powerful sting.


7. Do you have pictures of the various ants? Answer: Yes "click here"


8. What are the signs to look for with an ant infestation" Answer: Sand piles, ant trails, sawdust or accumulating debris.


9. How would you apply your products to control my infestation? Answer: Methods differ with the type of ant and location of the nest. An inspection should precede the treatment.


10. Is the treatment harmful to wildlife? Answer: No, applications are pest specific and products used have low mammalian toxicity and are placed where non-target creatures can't access them.

If you have a question regarding an ant problem that did not get answered in this blog contact me at: cs@permatreat.com and I will get the answer for you.

Ants are a problem this time of year and everyone has them. Contact us for your free inspection...it's best to get them under control early as opposed to waiting until your social event!

Job Promotions within the Company!

PermaTreat is pleased to announce the following promotions:

Troy Wolfrey has been promoted to Regional Manager with full operational responsibilities over our branches in Culpeper, Manassas, Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. Troy has been with PermaTreat since September 1998 when he began as a route service specialist. Most recently he has served as Manager of Culpeper where he has enjoyed outstanding growth.

James Minor has been promoted to Manager of the Culpeper branch. James began his PermaTreat career in March of 1987 as a termite technician and most recently had served as the Service Manager of the Fredericksburg branch.

Chris Isenhart, who started with the company in October 2006 as Richmond’s Service Manager, has been promoted to the Service Manager of the Fredericksburg branch.

Kerry Hardy, who joined PermaTreat in August 2010, has been promoted from sales inspector to Service Manager of the Richmond branch. Kerry came to PermaTreat from Federal Express where he worked as an operations managers for over 20 years. Kerry also holds a Class B contractors license.

We congratulate all four of these men on their promotions and look forward to working with them.