According to a recent report in PCT Magazine, ant activity is on the rise. “PCOs were reporting a marked rise in ant work, with ants replacing cockroaches as the most economically important pest in many parts of the country. Research commissioned by PCT also indicated the ant segment tied or surpassed termite work as the largest growth segment for much of the decade. Early on, the ant increase was blamed on warmer weather patterns throughout the U.S. as well as an increase in homeowner watering systems.”
This report indicated not only warmer weather patterns being the cause but also an increase in worldwide trading. More shipments arriving in our ports are introducing a variety of new ant species to the US. Dr. Roger Gold, professor and endowed chair in urban and structural entomology at Texas A&M University is quoted in this article saying “The boom in ant work has been characterized by a number of invasive and problematic ant species having been introduced from other parts of the world. It just seems like in the last few years with a lot of trade going on internationally that we have a lot more introductions than I remember in my whole career.”
The Center 