Getting ant infestations under control isn't an easy task. Pavement ants, carpenter ants, and other ants can enter your home through tiny cracks and holes. While it's natural to occasionally find an ant in your home, a sudden infestation may not happen randomly. Thus, you consult a Grants Pass pest control company for effective ant control services.
How Can I Tell What Type Of Ant Has Invaded My Home?
There are over 1,000 ant species in North America, and only a few invade homes. While they may look alike, they are varied in their behavior and appearance. There are a few things you can look for to identify the ant species that have invaded your house.
First, take a close look at the ant's appearance. Ants vary widely in size and color, so this can be a helpful identifying trait. Pay attention to the shape of the ant's head and thorax and the number of nodes on the petiole (the narrow waist between the abdomen and thorax).
Once you have made some observations about the ant's appearance, try to determine where it was found in your house. Some species of ants prefer sweet foods, while others are attracted to grease or meat. This can help you rule out certain types of ants.
Finally, consider the habits of different ant species. For instance, carpenter ants excavate wood to build their nests, while fire ants build mound nests out of the dirt. Considering all of these factors, you should be able to identify the type of ant that has invaded your home.
The Factors That Attract Ants
Could you be attracting ants into your home or business premises? Here are the factors that attract ants to Grants Pass properties.
- Food sources: Ants are often attracted to nearly all types of human food. They're particularly drawn to sweets, syrup, food spills, and more.
- Water and moisture: Ants require moisture and a steady water supply to build their colonies. If they find moisture or water in your home, they will keep coming.
- Plants and flowers: While most ants don't feed on houseplants, the sweet scent of flowers is naturally inviting to these pests.
- A place to nest: All living organisms need a place to call home, and ants are no exception. If ants find a quiet, safe place to nest in your home, they'll invade it.
One way of controlling an ant infestation is to identify the factors attracting these pests into your homes. Be sure to consult with an indoor and outdoor ant control expert to identify and get rid of these uninvited guests.
Why DIY Ant Control Usually Doesn't Cut It
A DIY approach to residential and commercial ant control doesn't eliminate pest infestations effectively. While taking matters into your hands is tempting, you are likely to misidentify the ants, treat symptoms instead of stopping the leading cause of the infestation, and scatter the insects instead of eliminating them.
Sometimes, ant control requires the use of pesticides. Most pest control products are poisonous and pose a health hazard if inhaled, ingested, or mishandled. You may know a few ant prevention tips, but you need a professional to eliminate a pest infestation.
The Best Way To Prevent And Eliminate Ants In Grants Pass
Since DIY ant pest control is unlikely to eliminate an infestation, calling in the backup will make your work much easier. An insured and licensed home pest control company like Bugs Northwest can help identify the ant species, determine the extent of the infestation, and implement the best ant control and prevention plan.
Call Bugs Northwest for pest control and crawl space needs. We have many years of experience; we'll have the answers you need. Call for a free estimate or inspection. It's a bad day to be a bug when we're around.
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