Ant Inspections: Why You Need a Professional Approach
Ants are among the most common household pests, frequently found in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and virtually any building where food and water are accessible – especially restaurants. While ants are typically harmless to humans, certain species, such as carpenter ants, can cause significant structural damage.
Understanding the behavior and nesting habits of ants is essential for proper management, and hiring a professional pest control service ensures the most effective solutions.
Ant Behavior
Ants are social insects living in colonies with distinct castes: queens, males, and workers. Most of the ants you see are sterile female workers tasked with foraging for food. Winged males and females, known as swarmers, leave the nest to mate. After mating, males die, and females become queens, shedding their wings and starting new colonies.
How to Distinguish Ants from Termites
Winged ants are often mistaken for termites, but you can identify them by:
1. Body shape: Ants have a narrow, pinched waist, while termites have a broader body.
2. Wings: Ants’ hind wings are smaller than their front wings; termites’ wings are uniform in size.
3. Antennae: Ants have elbowed antennae, while termites’ antennae are straight.
Though both may nest in wood, termites consume wood, causing more extensive damage, while ants carve smooth tunnels for nesting purposes.
Common Nesting Areas
Carpenter ants prefer moist wood, often found in:
• Water-damaged areas like windows, door frames, or leaky roofs.
• Hollow spaces such as wall voids behind dishwashers or deck columns.
• Wood piles, mulch, or vegetation near the home.
Nests can be hard to detect as external damage may not be visible. Listening for faint rustling sounds or tapping wood for hollow areas can reveal their presence.
Signs of an Ant Infestation
Look for these clues to identify an infestation:
• Ant trails: Large numbers of ants traveling in distinct paths, often along wires, pipes, or baseboards.
• Scout ants: Stragglers searching for food or nesting spots, which can lead you back to their nest.
• Frass deposits: Fine sawdust near wooden structures, indicating tunneling.
• Rustling sounds: A faint noise resembling crinkling cellophane within walls or wood.
• Outdoor activity: Nests in mulch, under potted plants, or in piles of rocks and firewood.
Prevention Techniques
• Homeowners can take steps to reduce the risk of ant infestations, including:
• Storing food in sealed containers and cleaning spills promptly.
• Fixing plumbing or roof leaks to eliminate moisture.
• Trimming vegetation touching the house and sealing cracks in the foundation.
• Storing firewood away from the home and off the ground.
• Storing garbage cans away from your house.
While these steps can help, they’re often not enough to eliminate an infestation.
Why You Need Professional Help
DIY remedies and exclusion techniques may seem cost-effective, but they rarely address the root cause of the problem. Ant infestations can extend deep into walls, foundations, and inaccessible areas of your home, making professional inspection and treatment essential.
At Bite Away Termite and Pest Control, Inc., we specialize in identifying and eliminating ant infestations at their source. Our trained professionals use advanced tools and proven methods to ensure your home remains ant-free. We can also keep termites from damaging your house.
Call Bite Away Termite and Pest Control today to schedule your inspection and protect your home from ants. Don’t let these small invaders cause big problems—let the professionals handle it for you!
