ANTS
PEST CONTROL
While you may not be intimidated by the small, wingless insects, a single ant queen can spawn out thousands of eggs every single day, and homemade efforts to kill them off prove completely ineffective, as there are still tens of thousands alive in their unseen colonies. So, what’s the deal with ants and what sign of an ant infestation should you look out for? These bugs are more complex than you’d imagine.
Ants pass through tiny cracks of a household, seeking food or water, and from there, they will nest just about anywhere, including indoors, in lawns, and even under foundations. There are many different kinds of ants, such as “carpenter ants,” which tend to nest in structural lumber, and “grease ants,” which live in walls, cabinet crevices, under counter-tops, and other disclosed areas. Ant colonies can be made up of anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 insects, with worker ants living up to seven years, and the queen able to survive up to 15 years.
To eliminate any insect infestation, you must destroy the nest itself, and the same applies to an ant problem, which can only be defeated by wiping out the entire colony. However, it’s likely there are multiple colonies in your house, well hidden in hard-to-reach places. Home and business owners’ own efforts to tackle the issue usually prove futile, as their methods do not account for the fact that different kinds of ant infestations require different treatments. To control an infestation properly and reduce the chances that the colony can return, it is important to contact a pest control professional. An expert from Squared Away Pest Control will provide an inspection to determine where the nest is located, as well as provide the most effective prevention and control service and recommendations.
These are a few signs of an ant infestation:
Live insects
Large numbers of live insects indicate a problem. If seen in the kitchen or in areas where you prepare food, it should be handled as soon as possible.
Ant pathways
These are sometimes seen leading in and out of your home. Some types of ants will lay down a pheromone trail to a food source. This chemical attracts other ants to find the food.
Ant nest
A nest site resembles a small pile of soil or dirt. In some cases, ants nest in walls or other quiet, dark places, which are more difficult to spot.