Discovering an ant colony in your home can seem insignificant, especially when ants aren’t known to cause the same degree of damage as rodents or termites.
What homeowners need to know about ants is that they can still cause significant damage to your property – and are known vectors of common pathogens. Ants are social creatures and use pheromones to signal their fellow ants about potential food sources. A single scout can venture into your Frederick home, signal to the others, and before you know it, you have a full-blown infestation.
If you’re dealing with an ant problem in your Frederick home, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about ants, their preferred habitat, and how to best handle them.
Three Ant Threats for Frederick Homes
Despite their small size, ants can significantly threaten the sanctity of your home environment. The pest control professionals at Phenom Pest Protect want to highlight three main types of ants that pose a risk to Frederick homeowners:
- Carpenter Ants: large, black ants that can damage the wooden structures of your home by creating tunnels and galleries. They do not eat wood but instead use it as a nesting site. Carpenter ants weaken the integrity of your home and cause costly repairs if left untreated.
- Fire Ants: small, reddish-brown fire ants can deliver painful stings to humans and animals. They are aggressive and will attack anything that disturbs their mound. Fire ants can cause allergic reactions and dermatitis. They can also damage electrical equipment and wires by chewing on them.
- Pharaoh Ants: are tiny, yellowish ants that can spread bacterial pathogens and contaminate food surfaces. They are difficult to control because they have multiple queens and colonies. They can also split into new colonies when disturbed, in a process called budding. Pharaoh ants can carry pathogens like salmonella, and staphylococcus.
Phenom Pest Protection offers targeted solutions, like effective baiting strategies, to eliminate Pharaoh ants and prevent further infestations.
What Causes an Ant Infestation?
Experiencing ant infestation is a common problem for homeowners.
Understanding why these insects invade your home can help to prevent future infestations.
Here are the top five reasons ants infest homes:
Leaving out Food: Ants typically search for easy-to-reach food sources, making your kitchen a prime target.
Grease and Crumbs: Neglected spills, juice stains, or crumbs from your favorite snacks are irresistible to ants.
Dirty Garbage Cans: Decomposing kitchen waste in trash cans is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for ants.
Leaking Pipes: Ants require a reliable water source. Leaky pipes, faucets, or areas with standing water or moisture problems can attract these pests.
Decaying Wood: Damp wood in or around your home provides an ideal setting for a colony of Carpenter ants. This could be due to leaky indoor pipes or rotting outdoor wooden structures.
These insights should help homeowners better understand and control ant invasions. However, professional help may be required for persistent or large-scale infestations.
Tips for Ant Control & Prevention
Tackling an ant infestation requires a combination of proactive measures and effective control strategies. Here are some valuable tips for preventing ants from making your home their next home:
Block off Access Points: Ants can enter your home through the smallest cracks. Sealing off these potential access points is a key preventive measure.
Eliminate Sources of Water: As with food, ants are attracted to water sources. Fixing leaks, addressing moisture problems, and removing standing water can significantly reduce your home’s appeal to ants.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean: Regularly clean up spills and crumbs, keep food in tightly sealed containers, and ensure your garbage cans are clean and well-sealed. A clean kitchen is less likely to attract ants.
Keep Pet Bowls Clean: Ants can be attracted to your pet’s food. Keep pet bowls clean and store dry pet food in sealed containers to eliminate this food source.
Seek Help from Pest Control Professionals: Persistent ant infestations require professional intervention. Experts can accurately identify the ant species, locate their colony, and use the most effective treatment methods.
It’s best to contact the professionals at Phenom if you notice an infestation. At Phenom Pest Protection, our team of local pest professionals is ready to provide you with customizable pest control plans to suit your specific needs. Contact us today for a free pest control inspection!
