How To Get Rid Of Ants In The House
by Daniel Lamb | July 15, 2020 | Blog
How Do I Know If I Have Ants In My Home
In order to properly treat any infestation in the home, it’s necessary to identify exactly what kind of insects you are dealing with so that you can effectively and completely eliminate the problem. Ants can propagate quickly and be tough to get rid of. They can show up at any time of year, especially if you reside in the southern portion of the United States, and your particular infestation can be one of several ant species making it even tougher to identify and treat the problem on your own. Whatever the species of ant, they will make their presence known where you store and prepare your food.
Why Is It Dangerous To Have Ants In My Home?
Ants are not only a nuisance, they can actually cause a lot of damage depending on the type you have. Ants can contaminate food in your home by transferring bacteria from rotting food in your trash or outside to food you might eat. Some species of ants like fire or harvester ants actually bite humans. And carpenter ants are known to damage building materials and other property. Most ants that you will find in your home, however, are house ants, which are usually less than 1/8 inch long and won’t transmit diseases or do damage to your property.
How Did I Get Ants?
Ants will enter your home in search of food and shelter. They can easily enter your home through any cracks or small holes in your doors, windows or foundation looking for food or water. If they are able to find a food source, they leave a pheromone trail which signals to the other ants in their colony to follow. This can quickly escalate an ant problem from spotting a few lone scout ants wandering your kitchen to trails of ants leading in and out of their colonies.
How Do I Get Rid Of Ants?
The first line of defense for getting rid of ants is to make sure that your home is not hospitable to them in the first place. Since ants feed on the kinds of foods we eat, especially sugary liquids, it’s important to make sure that your home is clean. Keep all food in airtight containers and make sure to clean up sugary spills from things like sodas, sugary coffee and honey completely so no trace can become a food source for ants. Make sure to eliminate damp spots and rotted wood from your home. Concentrate on keeping showers, windows and basements dry and fix any leaks that you might have.
Should I Call Pest Control For Ants?
Ants in the home can be difficult to treat on your own because it can be hard to know where they are getting into your home. Additionally, since ants are social insects that live in colonies, it is important for any treatment plan for ant removal to include killing the whole colony. Make sure you contact a reputable company who will provide you with a complete, integrated pest management program to completely eliminate your ant infestation.
If you spot ants in your home, contact Pest Control Experts to help eliminate the problem and protect your home from future issues. Call today for a free quote for a home inspection today.
