Ants are a common household pest that can quickly become a nuisance if left unchecked. While seeing a few ants here and there may not seem like a big deal, it could be a sign of a larger infestation. By knowing what to look for, you can identify the signs of an ant infestation early and take steps to address the problem before it gets out of control.
1. Increased Ant Activity
One of the most obvious signs of an ant infestation is increased ant activity. If you start to see large numbers of ants in or around your home, especially in areas like the kitchen or pantry where food is stored, it could be a sign that you have an ant infestation. Ants are constantly foraging for food, so a sudden surge in ant activity is a clear indication that they have found a food source in your home.
2. Ant Trails
Ants are known for following scent trails to and from their food source. If you start to see ants traveling in a steady line along a specific path, it likely means that they have established a trail between their nest and a food source in your home. These trails can often be found along baseboards, countertops, or even crawling up walls. By following the ant trail, you may be able to locate the nest and take steps to eliminate it.
3. Presence of Ant Nests
While some ant species build nests underground or in outdoor structures, others may create nests inside your home. Ant nests are typically found in dark, hidden areas such as behind walls, under floors, or in insulation. These nests can be difficult to spot, but you may notice signs such as tiny piles of soil or debris near cracks or crevices where ants are entering your home. By locating and eliminating the nest, you can disrupt the ant colony and prevent further infestation.
4. Ants in Unusual Places
In addition to finding ants in areas where food is stored, you may also notice them in other parts of your home. Ants are attracted to moisture, so they may be found in bathrooms, laundry rooms, or around leaky pipes. If you start to see ants in unusual places that are not typically associated with food, it could be a sign that you have a larger infestation on your hands.
5. Damage to Property
Certain species of ants, such as carpenter ants, can cause damage to your property by nesting in wood and other building materials. If you start to notice sawdust-like debris, hollowed-out wood, or cracks in wooden structures, it could be a sign that carpenter ants are present. Ignoring this type of damage can lead to costly repairs, so it is important to address the ant infestation as soon as possible.
6. Strange Rustling Noises
Ants are small and can be difficult to detect, but you may hear rustling or tapping noises coming from inside walls or ceilings where they are nesting. These sounds are created by the movement of ants as they travel back and forth between their nest and food sources. If you hear strange noises coming from within your walls, it could be a sign of an ant infestation that requires attention.
7. Health Concerns
In addition to being a nuisance, ants can also pose health risks to you and your family. Some ant species can bite or sting, leading to pain, itching, and potential allergic reactions. Additionally, ants can contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria as they travel through your home. If left unchecked, an ant infestation can contribute to the spread of disease and compromise the overall health and safety of your household.
Summary
It is important to be proactive in identifying and addressing signs of an ant infestation in your home. By recognizing increased ant activity, ant trails, presence of ant nests, ants in unusual places, property damage, strange noises, and health concerns, you can take steps to eliminate the infestation and prevent future problems. If you suspect that you have an ant infestation, it is best to consult with a professional pest control service to effectively eradicate the ants and prevent them from returning. By taking prompt action, you can protect your home, health, and peace of mind from the unwanted presence of ants.
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Regardless of where you are, you’re never too far away from an ant colony. Those little pests are everywhere! Luckily, as long as they stay outside of our homes, it seems like ants and humans can coexist pretty peacefully. The only problem is that those suckers really like being inside with us. They’ll stop at nothing to slip through any cracks in our walls, doors or foundations. What’s worse is that they’re good at getting inside, too! Thankfully, there are a few things we can do to prevent ants from getting inside and wreaking havoc. Continue reading to learn more about ant prevention and signs that it’s time to call a service for ant removal in Bartlesville, OK:
- Keep your kitchen clean: One of the top reasons why ants try to get inside is to eat food. After all, who doesn’t love a free meal? Make your home unattractive to colonies by ensuring that you don’t have crumbs on the floors or countertops. You also always need to wipe and clean up spills quickly, especially if it was a sticky beverage. Additionally, try not to leave food containers open for long periods of time, as that’ll only further entice your visitors.
- Block the entrances: Part of what makes ant infestations so hard to control is the fact that they’re so small that they can slip into your home in any number of ways. The majority of the time, when people have an ant problem, it’s because they were able to enter through small cracks in walls and doors. Take a walk around the exterior of your home and try to spot any cracks or holes and fill them with latex caulk. Although you probably won’t be able to stop all ants from entering, that caulk can do wonders to slow them down.
- Repel them: Home improvement stores sell a variety of substances that are supposed to repel pests, but you probably already have some natural ant repellents in your cupboards. Ants hate and won’t cross lines made of salt, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, cinnamon and spearmint leaves. Spread any of those along your windowsills and baseboards to keep ants away. They also really hate the smell of lemon. Spray a water and lemon solution around the exterior and interior of your home to make your home seem really unattractive to ants. Plus, the lemony scent will keep your home smelling fresh!
- Kill them: All-natural remedies can do wonders to prevent an infestation. However, they’re not foolproof methods, and ants can still get inside. If that’s the case, you may have to resort to rubbing them out. The least-messy way to handle the situation is to vacuum them up and empty the vacuum bag outside. Pour boiling water on any ant colonies you find outside to try to kill them, or just give the pros a call. We can swiftly handle any ant infestation, regardless of its size or severity.
If you’ve tried these tips and you still have an infestation, it’s time to bring in the pros. The team at Excellence Pest Control has years of experience with ant removal in Bartlesville, OK, and we’re more than willing to take care of your pest problem. Get in touch today to schedule a visit!
An ant infestation is never welcome in your home. Not only are they unsettling, but they are often difficult to remove. Ant removal in Bartlesville, OK is a challenging venture because the unique qualities of ants make them a resilient species. If you kill 100 workers, it is likely the queen will simply produce more! Here are six fun facts about ants that will help you appreciate the complexities behind controlling them:
- Ants have a complex social structure: The ant colony is based on hierarchy and specialized labor. There are three types: the queen, workers and males. Worker ants are always female and they do not have wings. They gather food and build mounds or underground tunnel systems. Male ants exist to mate with the queen, and once that is accomplished, they die shortly thereafter. The queen sustains the colony by laying eggs. Some species also have soldier ants, which defend the colony, gather food and attack competing colonies for food and nesting space.
- Ants are strong: A worker ant can lift 20 times her body weight. That is the equivalent of an adult human lifting a Ford F150 pickup truck. As you can imagine, this is a big advantage when gathering food or building material for the colony!
- They create trails: As ants travel, they leave a pheromone trail to signal to other ants where they went. If you leave a bag of sugar exposed or spill soda on your back porch, you will see a swarm before too long. This occurs because the ant that discovered the new food source used pheromones to signal others to join the feast.
- Ants have unique anatomy: There are two body parts missing with ants: lungs and ears. Rather than hear as we do, ants feel vibrations through the ground using their feet. As for breathing, ants have holes all over their bodies that allow oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to exit. It is almost like breathing through osmosis!
- Ants are peaceful—until they are not: Since colonies are highly structured, there is not much room for disputes. Every ant has a job and does it with few questions asked. However, just as with any living creature, conflict is a possibility. Males may fight to mate with the queen, or workers may wrestle over food. When this occurs, the fight is usually to the death. Also, some species take over the nests of competing colonies, kill the queen and steal the eggs. The stolen babies become “slave” ants once they hatch.
- The queen is it: A queen ant can live for years and have literally millions of babies. Without her, there is no colony. If she dies, the colony only survives a few months because the other females, the workers, cannot reproduce. There is usually not a replacement queen except under very rare circumstances. Most extermination efforts focus on killing the queen, and even if successful, it will take a little while to notice the results.
Excellence Pest Control offers ant removal in Bartlesville, OK and the surrounding areas. Call us today for a free estimate!
Summer is near, and ants across the nation couldn’t be happier. They’re coming out of their winter slumber and are ready to get inside your home to seek shelter and feast on all of your delicious food. The key to preventing a full-blown infestation is to call exterminators in Bartlesville, OK before it’s too late. Give our professionals a call ASAP if you notice either of the following signs:
- You see ants inside: Even though ants are small, they can be easy to spot inside your home—especially if they’re crawling across your kitchen counter, or if they’re hanging out in your pantry. Ants don’t live alone; if you see one, there are bound to be more lurking around somewhere. It’s not a bad idea to give us a call for extermination as soon as you see more than one ant in your home.
- You see ants outside: Ants inside your home are obviously a problem. But it’s also an issue if you spot any ants outside of your home. Any ants living in a nest near your home aren’t going to be content staying outside for too long. Sooner or later, they’ll be trying to get inside by any means possible. Don’t just sweep away an ant nest if you spot one, as the ants will just rebuild it in a matter of days. Give an exterminator a call as soon as you notice a nest outside. Our professionals will spray insecticide to get rid of the problem once and for all.
It’s also good to keep in mind that it’s possible to reduce the likelihood of an infestation by taking some preventative steps. Here are some measures you can employ to prevent an ant problem in your home:
- Sealing any cracks: One of the easiest ways for ants to get in your home is by sneaking in through any cracks in your walls or foundation. Call a handyman to seal anything that you can’t. Hiring someone to perform work around your home can be much cheaper than paying for ant exterminators after the fact. Also, make sure you’re closing doors behind you when you enter or exit the house.
- Cleaning up after yourself: Ants mainly try to get into your home because they want easy access to food. One of the easiest ways for them to eat is by snacking on any crumbs that fall on the ground, or sipping any spilled beverages. Wiping everything up with a wet paper towel will do wonders to prevent infestations.
- Calling us ASAP: Full-blown infestations can happen rather quickly. Call us as soon as you notice any signs of ants. Our professionals will take care of the situation quickly and easily with our non-toxic insecticides. We guarantee the quality of our work. Rest assured that you’ll never have to worry about an infestation after you pick up the phone and give us a call!
Time is ticking if you have any ants in your home. The longer you wait to call exterminators in Bartlesville, OK, the worse your infestation will get. At Excellence Pest Control, we’ve dealt with infestations of all sizes, and there’s nothing we can’t handle. Give us a call today for a free extermination estimate!
