There are an estimated 10 billion billion ants worldwide. That means there are billions of ants for each of us—no wonder why it seems that your ant problem at home seems overwhelming. In Arizona and most of the United States, a persistent species involved in ant infestations are black carpenter ants. However, ant species, such as fire ants, argentine ants, and pharaoh ants, as well as countless species of other ants, also appear throughout the state. If you see a few ants on your property, those may be worker ants or scout ants venturing out from their ant colonies.
What Are Different Types of Ant Infestations?
There are 12,000 species of ants worldwide, making the possibility of infestations almost a certainty. For residents, as well as commercial establishments, there are three typical types of ant infestation:
- a. Flying Ants: They may enter your home during the breeding season.
- b. Standard Black Ants: These are the most common types of ant infestation. They may enter your home in search of food and multiply rapidly as they establish colonies.
- c. Carpenter Ants: These are drawn to moist and damaged wood inside your home. They can cause considerable damage to your home as they chew through your furniture or wooden structures.
Are Ant Infestations Dangerous?
Though ants, by themselves, are typically harmless compared to other household pests. Outdoor ants can guard against insects, such as caterpillars and grasshoppers.
However, once indoors, ants pose a threat to your household because of the following reasons:
- They carry bacteria and harmful microorganisms and contaminate food where they infest.
- Some ant species bite, such as fire ants, if agitated.
- In the case of carpenter ants, they may cause substantial damage to your property.
- Ants may damage electrical equipment, while some ants may find their way inside your electrical appliances and damage the wiring.
Because of these reasons, homeowners seek ways to kill ants by several ant infestation in-house remedy solutions, from using diatomaceous earth to mixing baking soda with sugar to act as ant baits or to get rid of ants by killing them.
What Causes Your Ant Problems?
Two primary reasons cause ant infestations: the presence of food sources and your home being an ideal site to set up an ant colony. If your home has the following things, expect to attract ants soon:
- Food Spills and Leftover Food Scraps: if you have crumbs in the kitchen, dirty dishes lying about, and fruit on the counter, you are presenting foraging ants with food sources.
- Dirty Garbage Bins and Sticky Residue on Your Stovetop, Counters, and Food Containers: These also present excellent food sources for more ants.
- Leaking Faucets or Pipes: These areas also present access for ants to reach indoors.
- Decaying Wood or Water-Damaged Wood: These wood substances most attract carpenter ants. However, other household pests, such as termites, love decaying wood.
- Cracks on Walls and Gaps in Windows: These also allow ants to enter your home.
If you keep your home free of these problems, you can prevent ants from establishing colonies in your home.
How to Prevent an Ant Infestation?
Cleaning and sanitizing your home is crucial to prevent ant infestations by denying them their food sources. If the items mentioned above can be a clue, the idea is to maintain cleanliness to discourage ants from proliferating in your home. During warmer months, store food properly in airtight containers and leave no specks of food for ant scouts to find. Once you encounter spills, clean them immediately. Wash your dishes and prevent pet food from lying about immediately to prevent odorous house ants.
Inspect indoor potted plants
Aside from maintaining cleanliness at home, inspect windows, walls, doorways, and floorboards for holes and cracks where ants can enter. Moreover, check for exposed and soggy wood around your property to prevent carpenter ants from infesting your home. Do not leave outdoor trash bins unattended for days. Keep your trash bins covered as well.
How Will I Know If I Have Ant Infestation?
The most obvious sign of an ant problem is seeing ants marching or crawling indoors. If you see ant trails in your kitchen, it is an indication that scouts established a pathway to help guide worker ants to their food source. House ants in unexpected places are signs of a larger population in dark and hidden areas. Most of all, watch out for dead ants and hind wings in your House. These are also signs of a growing ant problem.
Another sign of a possible ant problem is the presence of ant nests nearby. An ant nest could look like a small mound. However, these may be telltale signs of a larger colony of ants nearby.
What Will I Do to Eliminate Ants?
There are various DIY solutions to eliminate ants. Ant sprays may kill a few ants and deter ants from loitering in specific areas. Mixing confectionary sugar with baking soda acts as a natural ant bait while killing ants in droves. You can mix boric acid with sugar and other known ant treats and place these near suspected ant colonies. As mentioned earlier, keeping your surroundings, especially your indoors, clean will prevent future ants, as well as other pests, from proliferating. However, if you have a persistent ant problem, you will need help from professional ant exterminators to get rid of all the ants.
For The Pest Control Expert Dealing With Ant Problems, Call Arizona Pest Solutions
If the extent of insect activity is severe, or if home remedies and DIY methods can’t solve your ant problems, call Arizona Pest Solutions now! We will help you find ants and eliminate them. We will thoroughly inspect and assess your property to formulate the ideal solution to eliminate all types of ant infestation. If you need help on how to get rid of ants inside your property, call us at (480) 359-9600. You may also fill out the contact form to get a free quote.
