Ants are a notoriously tricky pest to get rid of. Since they infest homes in overwhelming numbers and often establish their nests in hard-to-reach, tucked-away corners, they’re difficult for homeowners to eliminate. Their colonies are extremely efficient, and they’re able to recover quickly even after a large portion of their colony is killed. All of these factors make them an especially troublesome nuisance pest. If you’ve discovered these insects in your home, here’s what you can do:
Figure Out Which Species You’re Dealing With
The first step in addressing an ant infestation is to identify which ant species you’re dealing with. Some of the most common ants residents in the Midwest encounter include carpenter ants, odorous house ants and pavement ants. Each ant species has unique characteristics and behaviors, and they each cause different problems for homeowners. While some can cause significant structural damage, others are known to contaminate food. Whatever the case, knowing which type of ant infestation you have can help you figure out how to properly deal with them.
Understand What Attracted Them
Once you’ve identified the type of ant problem you’re facing, think about what could’ve attracted them. Most ants are searching for water and shelter. If your home offers both, it’s likely that they will want to become permanent residents. Tiny cracks and crevices in the undisturbed areas of your home offer the perfect place to take up shelter. For food, they tend to like sticky, sugary substances. Food crumbs, spills or even greasy residue can offer food sources for ants.
Ants also enjoy damp, warm environments. If your home has a lot of moisture due to standing water or leaks, this can be a major attractant for ants. Likewise, carpenter ants are attracted to rotting wood. If there’s any damp, decaying wood around your home, whether that’s structurally or sitting in the yard, this may be attracting carpenter ants.
Clean Up Your Home
After you’ve taken a look around your home to identify what could have attracted ants, it’s time to clean up. Remove any sources of standing water and rotting wood. Immediately clean food crumbs and spills as they happen. Regularly dispose of trash and secure it in a receptacle with a tight-fitting lid. Properly store leftovers in airtight containers to prevent ants from contaminating your food. Always keep your home free of clutter and make sure to seal up any possible entry points. Just some simple housekeeping can make your home less comfortable for ants and make it easier to get rid of them.
Follow the Trail
Often, it’s best to eliminate an ant infestation at the source. It’s common to see a trail of ants crawling in your home. Generally, you’ll notice ants trailing along the walls, baseboards, cabinets or countertops. See if you can follow the trail to locate the nest where the colony has established its home. This can be extremely tricky, so if you can’t find the nest, you may be able to determine its general location. This can be helpful when trying to place bait or direct the pest control team toward where you think they’re coming from.
Place Bait Stations
Bait stations contain a sweet substance that attracts ants to them. They also contain an insecticide that kills ants slowly. Ants carry the insecticide back to their nests, eliminating the colony at its source. Once you’ve identified the general location of the nest, place store-bought bait stations nearby. You can also place them in areas where you’ve noticed a lot of ants, as well as near entry points. The good thing about ant bait stations is that they’re very small and can fit in tight spaces, like cracks, corners and under appliances.
Call a Professional Pest Control Team
The number one way to deal with ants in your home is to call a professional pest control team. The technicians have extensive knowledge of ant control and are trained to locate the source of the infestation. They then use various techniques, targeted treatments and industry-grade bait stations to eliminate the problem. They’ll also help you identify the vulnerable areas of your home and potential attractants, as well as take preventative measures to protect your home against future infestations.
Have an ant problem in your home? The Omaha ant control experts at Pro-Staff are here to help! Call us at (402) 819-7378 or contact us online to put us on your pest control home team.
