As the warmer weather begins to sweep into Sacramento, it’s getting closer to the season when we begin to see ants more prevalently. Ants can be both a nuisance and a health hazard if they find their way into your home.
In today’s blog post, we are going to discuss ants, how they choose a home, and what you can do to prevent them. Read on to learn more and when you are ready to discuss ant control with the Sacramento pest control experts, reach out to the Earthwise Pest Management team. We offer ant control services to not only remove any current infestations you may be experiencing but also to help with preventing future pest problems.
Types of Ants
In Sacramento, there are several types of ants that may make your home their home. Each ant has slightly different preferences in regards to whether they prefer a dry or moist environment, types of food they eat, and other methods of living. That’s why one of the most important aspects of removing ants from a home is to first understand which type of ant we are dealing with. Some of the most common types of ants are:
- Carpenter ants
- Fire ants
- Argentine ants
- Bulldog ants
- Pharaoh ants
- Thief ants
It’s essential that before ants are treated that their species is properly identified as each type of ant requires a different extermination method.
How Ants Choose a Home
Ants choose a home much the same way as any pest. They find a home that they can easily enter that provides them with food, water, and shelter. When you are trying to prevent or exclude ants from your home, removing these things can make your house a less hospitable place for ants to live.
Entry Points
First and foremost, if ants are going to live in your home, they must be able to enter your house. The biggest issue with removing entry points for ants is their size. Ants are so small that they can often enter your home through the tiniest of cracks and holes that you may not even know exist. They often find their way in through poorly sealed windows and doors, cracks in the foundation of your home, or the space between a bent window screen and the frame.
Food Sources
Ants cannot survive without food. However, they don’t require very much food. Crumbs left on the floor or counter, overflowing trash cans, and food left out on the counter can easily make a meal for an ant.
Water Sources
Along with food, ants must have access to water in their new home. Again, the amount of water they require is not much considering their small size. This means that condensation on pipes, a dripping sink, or water left in the tub can easily serve as a water source for ants.
Shelter
Ants must also have a place to nest and reproduce. They can easily find this through small cracks in the walls, behind a loose baseboard, or in other small, secluded spaces.
How to Prevent An Ant Infestation
Unfortunately, even the cleanest of houses can fall victim to an ant infestation. However, keeping a clean home is one of your best defenses. Emptying your trash cans frequently, keeping the countertops and floors free from debris, and cleaning up spills immediately as they happen can help to prevent an ant infestation. The more that you can remove possible food and water sources, shelter, and entry points to your home, the less likely it will be that ants will choose your home as their own.
Earthwise – Your Sacramento Pest Control Specialists
Are you having difficulty with an ant infestation in your Sacramento home? The team at Earthwise Pest Management is here to help. We’ll not only remove the current infestation from your home, but we’ll also assist you in preventing future pest problems with our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, which works to remove water and food sources, shelter, and entry points into your home. It also helps us to minimize our use of pesticides making our pest control methods safer for you and your family.
Interested in learning more about our ant control services? Contact the team at Earthwise Pest Management today.