Ant Control 101: A Helpful Guide For Sacramento Homeowners
Many Sacramento homeowners find ants in their houses at one time or another. Sometimes they go away on their own; sometimes, the infestation seems to drag on. If you’re dealing with an ant infestation and you need pest control in Sacramento, call Proserv Pest Management. We’ll take care of your home.
The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
Many different types of ants infest Sacramento homes. Their tri-segmented bodies can vary in size and color, helping you determine what species are in your home.
Argentine ants are less than a 1/4 an inch long and are dark brown or black. Their colonies can have multiple queens. Argentine ants are often aggressive toward other ant species in the area.
Pavement ants live in or underneath cracks in the pavement. They’ll eat just about anything, so you don’t want them getting into your house. Sugar, grease, and protein all attract these ants.
Often, ant infestations begin when ants come looking for food or shelter. When the weather changes, they enter homes to nest somewhere more comfortable. They'll stay longer if they have easy access to food—either your food products or other materials that ants eat. Preventing ant infestations and implementing home ant control methods requires eliminating the factors that attract ants.
Ant Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Infestation
Most ant species in Sacramento are harmless and only annoy. They crawl all over your house but don’t typically cause much damage. There are, however, some exceptions.
If your home has an ant infestation of carpenter ants, you’ll begin to see damage to wooden surfaces and structures. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood like termites but chew through wood to create hollow openings; this is where they nest.
Some species of ants bite or sting. Fire ants have stingers that they use to defend their outdoor mound nests. Velvety tree ants bite if they feel threatened. Both species are more likely to be found outside, but if they’re too close to your house, you’re at a greater risk of harm.
The average house ant doesn’t drill holes in your walls or sting. But they can cause food contamination. Ants don’t spread disease on their own, but they walk over all kinds of surfaces and materials on their way to your food. As they touch food items and food preparation surfaces, ants can deposit pathogens that cause illness. In addition to ant removal, sanitation is often necessary to get rid of any contamination caused by ants.
Ant Prevention Is Key: Effective Tips And Tricks
Two aspects of ant prevention are most important. First, you need to get rid of anything that attracts ants. Then, you need to make your home inaccessible to insects so they can’t get inside.
Implement these tips around the house to keep ants away:
- Clean up food spills immediately
- Store food in solid, airtight containers
- Address any issues causing excess moisture around the home
- Keep firewood several feet from your home
- Trim tree branches back so they don’t touch your house
- Seal any cracks or holes in the walls
One of the biggest attractors for ants is food. Most ant species will eat anything, so any crumbs or spills can invite them in. Clean up food messes as quickly as possible and store all your food in containers ants can’t enter. Plus, keep your trash receptacles clean and covered with tight-fitting lids.
Moisture is another thing that ants look for. When indoors, many ant species will build their nests near a water source; this might be next to a water heater or inside a wall void next to some pipes. Make sure you don’t have anything causing extra moisture around your home, such as a leaky pipe or a poorly ventilated area.
Firewood and tree branches can act as bridges from the outside to your house. Ants might nest in a woodpile, then get inside when you bring the wood in. They sometimes use branches as bridges to reach a home. Keep your firewood stored away from the house, and always check outdoor items for ants before bringing them inside. Trim back tree branches so they don’t touch your home.
Small holes or cracks in the walls of your house can become entry points for ants. Make sure you seal over everything and that doors and windows fit properly with no gaps; this will make it more difficult for ants to get inside your house.
If you’ve tried all this and the ants keep returning, you should contact the professionals for professional ant extermination and control.
Professional Ant Control: A Great Way To Keep Ants Out For Good
Proserv Pest Management is the team you need to keep ants away from your Sacramento home. We always begin with an inspection, looking for entry points and other factors contributing to an infestation. Then we’ll work with you to decide on the ant control method that your home needs. The treatment you receive from us is always customizable; we want to work for you and your home. Call Proserv Pest Management today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Sacramento.
The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
Many different types of ants infest Sacramento homes. Their tri-segmented bodies can vary in size and color, helping you determine what species are in your home.
Argentine ants are less than a 1/4 an inch long and are dark brown or black. Their colonies can have multiple queens. Argentine ants are often aggressive toward other ant species in the area.
Pavement ants live in or underneath cracks in the pavement. They’ll eat just about anything, so you don’t want them getting into your house. Sugar, grease, and protein all attract these ants.
Often, ant infestations begin when ants come looking for food or shelter. When the weather changes, they enter homes to nest somewhere more comfortable. They'll stay longer if they have easy access to food—either your food products or other materials that ants eat. Preventing ant infestations and implementing home ant control methods requires eliminating the factors that attract ants.
Ant Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Infestation
Most ant species in Sacramento are harmless and only annoy. They crawl all over your house but don’t typically cause much damage. There are, however, some exceptions.
If your home has an ant infestation of carpenter ants, you’ll begin to see damage to wooden surfaces and structures. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood like termites but chew through wood to create hollow openings; this is where they nest.
Some species of ants bite or sting. Fire ants have stingers that they use to defend their outdoor mound nests. Velvety tree ants bite if they feel threatened. Both species are more likely to be found outside, but if they’re too close to your house, you’re at a greater risk of harm.
The average house ant doesn’t drill holes in your walls or sting. But they can cause food contamination. Ants don’t spread disease on their own, but they walk over all kinds of surfaces and materials on their way to your food. As they touch food items and food preparation surfaces, ants can deposit pathogens that cause illness. In addition to ant removal, sanitation is often necessary to get rid of any contamination caused by ants.
Ant Prevention Is Key: Effective Tips And Tricks
Two aspects of ant prevention are most important. First, you need to get rid of anything that attracts ants. Then, you need to make your home inaccessible to insects so they can’t get inside.
Implement these tips around the house to keep ants away:
- Clean up food spills immediately
- Store food in solid, airtight containers
- Address any issues causing excess moisture around the home
- Keep firewood several feet from your home
- Trim tree branches back so they don’t touch your house
- Seal any cracks or holes in the walls
One of the biggest attractors for ants is food. Most ant species will eat anything, so any crumbs or spills can invite them in. Clean up food messes as quickly as possible and store all your food in containers ants can’t enter. Plus, keep your trash receptacles clean and covered with tight-fitting lids.
Moisture is another thing that ants look for. When indoors, many ant species will build their nests near a water source; this might be next to a water heater or inside a wall void next to some pipes. Make sure you don’t have anything causing extra moisture around your home, such as a leaky pipe or a poorly ventilated area.
Firewood and tree branches can act as bridges from the outside to your house. Ants might nest in a woodpile, then get inside when you bring the wood in. They sometimes use branches as bridges to reach a home. Keep your firewood stored away from the house, and always check outdoor items for ants before bringing them inside. Trim back tree branches so they don’t touch your home.
Small holes or cracks in the walls of your house can become entry points for ants. Make sure you seal over everything and that doors and windows fit properly with no gaps; this will make it more difficult for ants to get inside your house.
If you’ve tried all this and the ants keep returning, you should contact the professionals for professional ant extermination and control.
Professional Ant Control: A Great Way To Keep Ants Out For Good
Proserv Pest Management is the team you need to keep ants away from your Sacramento home. We always begin with an inspection, looking for entry points and other factors contributing to an infestation. Then we’ll work with you to decide on the ant control method that your home needs. The treatment you receive from us is always customizable; we want to work for you and your home. Call Proserv Pest Management today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Sacramento.