Thanks to the adage, we all know how quickly ants can ruin a picnic. However, if you are a Fort Worth homeowner, there’s nothing worse than having ants infest your home. That’s because when ants invade, they present all sorts of problems. Some can spread disease; some can bite; some can contaminate food and surfaces; some can even destroy your home. There’s no shortage of issues you could run into should your Fort Worth home become infested with ants. That’s why it’s so important for you to know and utilize effective ant control measures to keep these unwanted pests out of your home. Furthermore, should your Fort Worth home become infested with ants, you need to know the ant control solutions you can count on to get them out.
Identifying Common Area Ants
Here in Fort Worth, there are several ant species that you could find in or around your home. Some of the more common species include acrobat ants, carpenter ants, crazy ants, fire ants, ghost ants, odorous house ants, and rover ants. Acrobat ants can be light yellow, brown, or black and are about 1/8th of an inch long. They can raise their abdomen over their thorax and head. Carpenter ants are typically black, red, or a combination of the two. They grow to about ½ an inch long and have powerful mandibles which they use for chewing through wood. Crazy ants are small ants that are covered in tiny hairs and range in color from brownish-red to black. They derive their name from the erratic manner in which they move. Fire ants are reddish-brown to black and grow to be about 3/8th of an inch long. Bites from fire ants are painful and can cause a burning sensation which is from where they get their name. Ghost ants have an almost translucent coloring to them which can make them difficult to spot. Odorous house ants are small dark brown ants that can emit a foul-smelling odor if they are threatened or smushed. Rover ants are small ants, growing to be about 1/16th of an inch long. They have humped thoraxes by which you can distinguish them from other ants.
Threats Posed By Ants
By and large, most of the ants you will come across in your home are simply nuisance pests. However, there are a few species of ants that can spread disease, inflict painful bites or stings, or cause property damage. For instance, fire ants are very aggressive ants that inflict painful stings. These stings can prove to be dangerous to those with allergies. Additionally, carpenter ants build their nests inside of wood. In doing so, they can cause all sorts of costly damage to the structural wood inside of your home. Finally, some ants pick up harmful contaminants which they can spread throughout your home. These can lead to illnesses such as salmonellosis and typhoid fever. No matter the species of ant, dangerous or nuisance, you simply shouldn’t want them roaming around your home.
Factors That Attract Ants Into Homes
The main reason ants will enter a home is because they are searching for food, water, or shelter. Therefore, potential food sources such as trash cans, pantries, and even spills can attract ants inside. Furthermore, moisture issues in a home can also be a factor in drawing ants in. Additionally, ants such as carpenter ants are attracted to decaying and moisture-damaged wood as it is easier for them to build their nests inside.
Ant Prevention Tips
Knowing what attracts you inside, you can take the following preventative measures to help keep ants out of your Fort Worth home.
- Store food in airtight containers or in the refrigerator.
- Store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids and take out the trash regularly.
- Wipe up any spills from countertops and floors immediately.
- Fill in cracks in your home’s exterior and foundation, and install door sweeps under exterior doors.
Effective Ant Control For Your Fort Worth Home
If you do find yourself dealing with an ant infestation in your home, contact the professionals here at All-Safe Pest & Termite for assistance. Whether they are dangerous or simply a nuisance, you shouldn’t have to put up with ants living in your home. So, don’t wait until it’s too late. Give us a call today for effective ant control solutions that you can count on.