Some people consider themselves anti-fighting experts. But how much do you really know about ants? You might say that they start appearing when you have a dirty kitchen or breakroom, and you’d be right. But if that’s the extent of your ant knowledge, you’re completely unprepared to fight off a potential ant infestation. Once ants infest your property, you need to be informed in order to get rid of them. Use this guide to overcome these tiny but troublesome pests.
The Ins And Outs Of The Ant Caste System
Ants operate in a strict caste system with three tiers: the workers, the males, and the queen. At the top is obviously the queen. She’s responsible for reproducing constantly and keeping the colony alive. Beneath her are the males that have only one purpose in life; to mate with the queen. At the very bottom are the workers. These are sterile and wingless female ants that are responsible for getting food, taking care of the young, and doing anything else necessary to keep the queen and the colony alive.
Why Ant Infestations In Sacramento Are A Huge Problem
For the most part, ants are harmless to humans. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. When ants infest a home, they’re looking for food and shelter. They can easily infest your food and contaminate it, which costs you money. Some ants, like carpenter ants, can damage wooden structures in the home. That’s dangerous and costly. Other ants, like fire ants, can deliver painful bites that can cause deadly allergic reactions in some individuals. These ants are especially dangerous if you’re a homeowner with small children or elders who can’t move out of harm's way on their own.
What makes ants especially annoying is that they are nearly impossible to get rid of using DIY methods. Ants are able to avoid death from poison baits by using their caste system. Older workers – sometimes called “living silos” – handle the distribution of food returned to the colony. As the poison bait is passed from ant to ant, it dilutes. When the queen receives the poison, it’s so diluted that it won’t kill her. You’ll waste money on poison baits, and the end result will be that ants will learn to avoid that bait.
Ant Prevention Tips For Sacramento Property Owners
While ants are difficult to get rid of, you can still prevent them from invading in the first place. Here are some important prevention tips you can use to keep your home ant-free.
- Keep your home clean. Wipe off counters, sweep regularly, and take the trash out often to avoid attracting ants. Once they locate a food source, they’ll come back in droves. Don’t let them find a food source!
- Don’t leave food sitting out on counters and tables. A bowl of fruit, for example, provides easy access to food for ants. Instead, seal food in plastic containers or keep it in the fridge.
- Seal up any cracks, openings, and holes. Ants are usually less than 1/2 an inch in length, so any tiny opening can allow them in.
- Check the foundation, siding, utility entrances, windows, and doors for potential entry points.
- Fix leaks and eliminate stagnant water. Water attracts ants as well as other pests, so don’t let it pool around your property. Unclog gutters and drainpipes to prevent water buildup.
The Foolproof Way To Eliminate Ants On Your Sacramento Property
If you want to get rid of ants on your Sacramento property, contact the experts at Neighborly Pest Management. Our special ant control treatments will eliminate pesky ants from your property with ease. Call us today for prompt, professional, effective service.