Ants are some of the smallest home invaders, but they bring big problems in with them. Completely preventing ant colonies from growing on your property is no small feat, so it pays to know what to look for and how to take effective steps to eliminate pest problems.
Ants To Be On Watch For
There are a wide variety of ants that range from nuisances to dangers. Nuisance ants are the kind we tend to think about most often, the ones that crawl around mostly minding their own business rather than biting animals or carrying diseases. Other ants can be far more hazardous to your health and property. Only by knowing how to differentiate between the two can you hope to combat ant infestations. Here are some of the most common ant species in our area:
- Odorous house ants: While these small, black ants are largely harmless, they will contaminate food sources and the areas where we prepare meals. They also give off a foul odor that wards off predators and can make you sorry you stepped on them.
- Carpenter ants: Another black variety of ant, this kind has a unique feature — they bore through wood in order to create nesting tunnels. They don’t eat wood, however, making them another type of ant that can contaminate food.
- Pharaoh ants: These brown or light yellow ants are dangerous because of the harmful diseases they are known to spread.
- Fire ants: These small, bright red ants are the angry cousins of the family. Their rear stingers carry burning venom and they are incredibly territorial.
What Leads To Ant Infestations
Whether they’re the nuisance variety or the kind that can pose greater risks, ants are driven onto properties in search of the same kinds of things: food, water, and shelter. All of the following are factors that attract ants or allow them easy access to homes:
- Food: Ants are foragers that send out hundreds of workers to gather even tiny crumbs of food. That means you shouldn’t leave food out and you should deep clean for traces regularly.
- Cracks: Ants can squeeze through impossibly tiny cracks or holes in the wall, making exterior inspections and maintenance an important factor in staying on top of pest prevention.
- Doors & Windows: A gap under the door or a hole in a window screen can prove to be a wide open entrance for ants that can simply crawl on in. Proper weather stripping and screen maintenance can help.
Ant Prevention Isn’t Easy
Because of their small size and large numbers, ants are nearly impossible to keep out entirely. That’s why the best course of action for complete pest control is to turn to experts who can assist you with the steps necessary to protect against ants and other invasive insects. That said, there are some steps that you should take often in order to stay ahead of pest problems:
- Trash storage: We talked about the food problem above, but ants will also forage inside of garbage bins for their morsels. Keep trash stored in well-lidded containers, both inside and out of the house.
- Crack sealing: To prevent ants from crawling in through tiny faults in your exterior, you should regularly check for holes or cracks. Make repairs with caulk or wood glue wherever necessary.
- Landscaping: Ant infestations often start out in the yard before moving inside. As such, any soil or plant contact with the outside walls of your home provides ants with overlap between your domain and theirs.
Ant Prevention: White Knight’s Quest
Because it takes an expert to even identify a nuisance ant versus a dangerous one, you really shouldn’t try to manage ant populations on your own. Instead, turn to the trained professionals at White Knight Pest Control. We know how to spot and address all kinds of invasive ants and match the right solutions to your property. Even if you don’t think ants are a problem, a thorough inspection of your home can let you know for sure. Whether we find problems or not, our friendly staff will provide you with useful tips on how to protect against future infestations. Not only can we offer proven prevention treatments, protecting your lawn and home from ant invasions, we can completely get rid of existing colonies before they pose greater risk to you and your loved ones.
To get started on total ant control today, reach out to White Knight Pest Control.