Ants: Unwanted Nuisances
Ants are six-legged insects that form elaborate colonies to survive. They dole out tasks to members of their caste system, from food gatherers to sacrificial soldiers and reproductive queens. While they are small, ant populations can number in the millions, so they can quickly overrun a territory. They tend to form their colonies outside in the soil, but all kinds of ants can be attracted indoors in search of food. While most ants you’re likely to encounter are mere nuisances and don’t harm people or pets, all ants can contaminate food or the places where we prepare it. Some varieties of ant can even cause extensive property damage and bring a host of other problems with them.
What Attracts Ants Into Your Home?
The differences between dangerous and nuisance ants can be tiny, literally. So, rather than break down all the different kinds that can range from dangerous to nuisance, it’s better to focus on the things that attract ants of all kinds:
- Food: Even small crumbs or leftover traces of spills can be enough to attract ants, which use receptors on their antennae to pick up aromas from far away. Deep cleaning is key, especially in places that are hard to reach for people but easy to reach for ants.
- Moisture: Some ants, like carpenter ants, are attracted to waterlogged woods, which are easier to bore into and lay eggs inside. Areas of high moisture buildup can be a pest paradise.
- Soil: Ants that burrow through the dirt can get easy access through foundational cracks if flowerbeds or other vegetation runs right up next to a structure. Keep things well away from your home to discourage ants from making the trek inside.
Ant Prevention Tips For Your Property
Because an infestation can quickly spin out of control, proper prevention is key. Knowing what you can do to reduce the factors that allow ants in may just save you from a costly invasion:
- Sealing cracks: A tiny hole to us can be a wide-open highway for tiny ants, which will crawl and squeeze through impossibly tiny openings in walls or foundations. Maintain these areas regularly to limit access points.
- Food storage & disposal: Ants can chew their way into boxes and soft plastic bags, so storing food in sturdier containers is a good way to keep them from contaminating it. Don’t forget about pet food, which also attracts ants; and trash, which should be secured.
- Windows & doors: Improperly fitting windows and doors can leave wide areas for ants to traverse inside. Screens on windows and sweeps on doors can prevent these areas from being easily breached.
Contact The Professionals At Prosite
Whether a nuisance colony has ventured onto your property or it’s a colony that can pose some serious problems down the road, you don’t want to take the chance. Turning to trained professionals not only provides peace of mind that your entire property has been inspected for ants or the things that attract them, but it also can help you keep up on all these necessary prevention steps. Call Prosite today for more help or assistance.
If you need to get rid of an infestation fast, don’t wait, contact Prosite right away.