Carmel Pest Control Company: Ants 101
A Carmel pest control company know that when ants invade your house, they can be difficult to get rid of because they appear to come from everywhere. Ever wonder why ants are drawn to your house in the first place? In spite of warm weather and high humidity, you can keep ants out of your house by following these five typical reasons why they are drawn to homes and some important preventative advice.
Why do ants get into things?
Ants typically enter homes in search of food and shelter. Usually, they dispatch scouts to find the best locations for the colony. The colony will grow as more members find things like food remnants, simple access to water, and easily accessible shelter.
The weather has an impact on their behavior as well. Ants are much more likely to start searching for safe havens inside during cold or rainy weather which is why sometimes you need pest services in Carmel.
Does destroying ants draw in more of them?
A Carmel pest control company explains that regretfully, it does. Pheromones released by dead ants alert neighboring ants, who usually take their dead back to a place known as a midden. To keep infections away from the hive, dead ants, waste, and contamination are stored in the midden.
Five causes of ants entering houses
For similar reasons, most ants in the United States, regardless of species, are drawn into homes. The top five reasons why your home might have an ant infestation are listed below.
- Sweet Foods
Ant infestations are common in kitchens, pantries, and other areas where food is kept because ants are always searching for easily accessible food sources. They enjoy sweet, sugary foods, both real and manufactured. Food fragments, sugary snacks, spilled soda, and even fruits and vegetables on the counter all draw the attention of ants which is why sometimes you need professional pest services in Carmel.
- Grease
A Carmel pest control company explains that in addition to food, another thing that draws ants is leftover grease and food residue, which is frequently found on your stovetop, the sides of food storage containers, countertops, or trash cans. These minuscule food particles that humans tend to ignore serve as ants’ equivalent of beacons. Grease residue must be cleaned up, especially in restaurants, to keep pests out.
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Wetness
A Carmel pest control company explains that numerous ant species search for a reliable and convenient source of both food and water. Water draws ants because it is necessary for their growth and reproduction. An ideal habitat for ants can be produced by poorly sealed windows and doors, as well as leaky sinks, toilets, and other fixtures. An ant infestation may also result from standing water in laundry rooms or close to clogged floor drains.
- Accessible
Ants can enter a space with little difficulty. Ant entrances can be created by holes in your walls, cracks in your foundation, and shoddy window and door sealing. They are also capable of navigating gaps in the floorboards, loose baseboards, and holes in walls which is why sometimes you need pest services in Carmel.
- Rotten wood
After a downpour, wood in your house may retain too much moisture due to leaky gutters or pipes. This is frequently enough moisture to provide ants with the ideal place to hide out. Soft, decaying, or wet wood is the ideal habitat for carpenter ants to burrow. To get to a place of refuge, other ant species can follow trails left behind by termites or carpenter ants.
A Carmel Pest Control Company Explains How to stop ants from entering your house:
Knowing what attracts ants to your house will help you take precautions against ant attraction and avoid an infestation.
Begin by routinely cleaning your kitchen. Keep food in airtight containers and never leave spills or crumbs behind. Additionally, be sure that the trash is kept in sealed containers.
Remove any excess moisture
Use a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of moisture in the air if your home is overly damp. Make sure your Carmel house is leak-free and promptly take care of any water damage.
Protect your house
Cutting down on ants’ access is the last line of defense against them. Look for any gaps or fractures on the outside of your Carmel house that could let bugs in. Make sure every window and door has a screen and that all of the screens are in place.
Common ant species found in homes
There are many different kinds of ants that can enter your Carmel house, but they are drawn to similar objects and have a lot in common. These are the most typical kinds that you’ll come across.
Argentine Ants
Argentine ants are most likely what you’re seeing if you notice ants moving in a very long single-file line. They are usually small, dark-colored, and have a reputation for forming hostile super-colonies by combining with other colonies. Because of their size, bites from Argentine ants rarely hurt people.
Carpenter Ants
A Carmel pest control company explains that carpenter ants are usually about ½ of an inch in size and can be red, brown, or black in color. They are wingless, with the exception of the swarmers, which hatch in the spring and summer, and have easily identifiable heart-shaped heads. They are frequently mistaken for termites due to their similar sizes and shared burrowing behavior in wood. When there is a lot of moisture present, carpenter ants like to build their nests in wet or damaged wood.
Crazy Ants
Crazy ants are usually about ⅛ of an inch long and have a reddish-brown color. Occasionally, crazy ants will construct their nests inside walls or in electrical equipment such as air conditioners, despite their natural tendency to build their nests outdoors and venture inside buildings to search for food. They are annoying pests because of their large populations, unpredictable movements, and stinging bite. They are also known for quickly taking over a yard or house which is why sometimes you need pest services in Carmel.
Big-Headed Ant
The color of big-headed ants varies from yellow to a dark reddish-brown. Their moniker comes from the large heads compared to their bodies of the major workers. Usually, foundation cracks allow them to enter homes. Although they usually don’t nest inside, big-headed ants are drawn to your yard and will enter to search for food.
Odorous Ants
The pungent, decaying scent that the crushed odorous house ant emits is what gives it its name. They range from dark brown to black in size. They are widespread in the US and look for moisture under dripping faucets or within the walls of your Carmel house.
Fire Ants
A Carmel pest control company explains that fire ants are distinguished by their stinger and dull red color. These ants create noticeable soil mounds in sunny regions because they are drawn to heat and light. They are a species of aggressive ants that consume both dead animals and live insects. Fire ants are drawn to fatty and sugary foods when they are inside a house. They can bite and sting, producing excruciatingly painful welts that have the potential to turn into blisters.
Pest Services in Carmel
Hiring a reputable pest control company like Smithereen is the best way to deal with an ant infestation in your Carmel house. Smithereen is without a doubt the industry leader in pest control solutions thanks to their tried-and-true techniques, skilled technicians, and top-notch products and services.
In addition to providing safe and reasonably priced extermination for your existing issues, a Carmel pest control company also provide preventative treatments to address possible threats before they arise. For a free estimate and help controlling your pest problem, contact us right now.
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