Ant Control
Ants come in various sizes, colors, and types, but they all have one thing in common. They love invading your home. As one of the most popular pests, ants are typically drawn into our homes to establish nests and forage for food. Their colonies can contain up to half a million members, so if ants start invading your space, its time to call a pest control professional.
Description And Behavior
Ants are very social insects and live in large colonies. There are two types of ants in a colony: queens and workers. The queen lays eggs while the workers care for the larvae, forage for food and defend the colony. Ant species will differ in the number of queens per colony, as well as how and what time of year the colony reproduces and the type of food they prefer.
How Serious Are Ant Infestations?
Although some ants can cause physical damage to a structure, ants can also pose a health risk by carrying bacteria that may transfer to food, cookware, dishware, and food preparation surfaces. They can be carriers of various disease-causing organisms including E. coli, Streptococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus.
Warning Signs Of An Ant Infestation
There are some warning signs that can indicate your living space has been invaded by ants.
These include:
Stray ants wandering around inside
Ant colonies send out scouts to forage for food, and these scouts may show up in your bedroom, family room, bathroom or other locations where roaming ants are unusual.
Food becoming overrun
Dirty dishes, unattended food leftovers, food crumbs on the floor, pantry items not sealed in airtight containers, and even dog or cat food bowls are prime targets for ants to show up in numbers if ants have invaded.
Colonies outside of your home
Homes or buildings that are infested with ants are usually surrounded by ant nests outside of the structure. It is important to look for activity near or next to the building. Make note of any ants that may be milling around small mounds of dirt. Even though some ant hills may appear small, they have the potential of containing thousands of ants beneath the surface.
Professional Ant Removal For Your Property
For effective ant removal, professionals first need to identify the type of ant responsible for the infestation. Many ant species require help from an experienced exterminator to remove. Professionals will confirm characteristics and identify problem ants to implement a specific control and removal program based on species, size, and the overall complexity of the problem. We conduct a report during control processes and inspections that outlines areas of concern as well as recommendations for prevention. Ant control involves the application of commercial pest control products in various forms including dust, liquid spray, bait, and traps. Dust is injected directly into voids where carpenter ants congregate, and liquids and baits are applied where workers are likely to pick the material up and carry it to the colony.
What Can I Do To Help Prevent Ants?
Measures can be taken to better safeguard your home against future ant problems.
These Include:
Leaks and Holes
Fixing a leak in your roof, leaking or dripping pipes, eavestrough runoff and drainpipes leaking toward the structure, and other issues that provide a source of moisture
Waste Management
Removing food waste, crumbs or residue in kitchen areas, patios, family rooms, etc.
Cleaning Up
Exercise good housekeeping practices and keep indoor and outdoor food preparation areas clean to eliminate any potential food sources
Containment
Seal up all food or organic waste in sealed containers
Sealing
Sealing up potential entry points, such as cracks, holes or gaps on the outside of your home
Nesting
Clearing away debris that attracts nesting sites from the outside of your home
Yard Waste
Moving away mulch, cutting back foliage, removing rock piles, boards, firewood, decaying organic matter, and anything else that provides moisture near your home
Garbage
Keeping outdoor waste secured and removed on a regular basis