If you’ve seen a few ants scuttling around on the floor inside your home, they might be having a look around or it might be the sign of a larger ant infestation. These tiny insects usually invade your home in search of food. When a scout ant figures out your house is an excellent source of food, it leaves a scent for other ants to follow. It’s vital to get rid of an ant infestation as soon as possible. Not only are ants a bother, but some species of ants, like carpenter ants, can significantly damage your home. If carpenter ants have infested your property, their tunneling can harm your structure.
Why Are Ants In My Home
Ants could be in your home for multiple reasons. Ants love a good sugary spill, so if you’re not cleaning up spills from things like honey, wine, and fruit juice, ants will be attracted to your home. Since most ants
are pretty tiny, even the smallest crack in your foundation is a welcome sign to ants. In addition, not cutting back the vegetation around your home give the ants somewhere to live outside your home – attracting them eventually inside your home. Knowing ants can enter the home in many ways, it’s important to have a professional identify the cause of the issue and correct not just the infestation, but how and why they’re getting in.
Ant Infestation Signs
If you’re seeing a large number of live ants, you may have a problem. It’s not often (or ever, really) that you have just one ant. They live in colonies, after all. If you find them in your kitchen or in areas where
you prepare food, proper sanitation and cleaning strategies will help them move along. You wouldn’t stay if there was no food either. Some types of ants will lay down a pheromone trail to a food source. This chemical attracts other ants to find the food. Ant nests, another sign of infestation, can look like a small pile of soil or dirt. Some species of ants like to make their home in walls or other quiet, dark places, which are more difficult to spot. A trained eye can easily spot them, though.
Dealing With An Ant Infestation
When dealing with ant infestations in your home or business, DIY ant methods are not recommended. Some people say use cinnamon. Some say use white vinegar. Both may repel ants for a limited time but unless you’re looking to fill your home with them (who wants their home smelling like white vinegar?), you are just delaying the inevitable. None of these methods will kill ants, either. So, you’ll probably just drive them into a different room instead. Bring in an an expert that understands the habits of different types of ants and can offer the most appropriate and effective solution.
Preventative Measures To Take In The Home
- Clean Up Spills Immediately: If there’s any food or liquid spilled, even a few crumbs, it’s best to clean up right away because a tiny crumb is enough to attract ants to your home!
- Sweep Under Appliances: When crumbs fall onto the floor, they can collect and build up under kitchen appliances. Ants are always scouting for food and it only takes a few pieces of food lying around for them to tell their friends! Try using a vacuum attachments to really get those spots you can’t see clean.
- Food Storage: Try not to leave any open containers or bags of food around. Store food in airtight containers or seal them tightly with clips. Ants can also get through refrigerator seals! Any open fruit bowls should be emptied regularly.
- Pet Food: Clean up your pets’ leftover food or spillage right away. Ants also like to eat pet food that has been left on the ground. Putting a silicone mat under the food and water area will not only help for easy cleanup (pick it up and empty it right into the garbage and wipe it down with cleaner), but it will save your floors.
- Seal Cracks: Ants can get through seals in all cracks and crevices around windows and doors. Make sure to check for leaks from time to time and seal up those cracks, too!
- Outside Bins: All trashcans should have secured lids on them as ants can easily detect food in the bins. Rinsing them down every now and then is a good idea just in case there was a spill inside. This will also help deter flies, cockroaches, and mice from getting interested.
OPC Pest Services understands the risks of an ant infestation in the home and that’s why we make it a priority to eliminate the problem right away. Call an OPC specialist now for a Free Estimate!
Call today and ask for a free, no-obligation ant inspection for your home!