Whether it’s a few or a few hundred, nobody wants to see ants in their Tucson home. Unfortunately, ants are home-invading pests that can cause many problems for homeowners. Ants are known to spread harmful bacteria, damage property, and inflict painful bites and stings. Therefore, you need to take the necessary steps to protect your home from ant infestations. To do so effectively, you first need to know why ants enter in the first place. Furthermore, should you find yourself dealing with an ant infestation, you need to know the effective ant control solutions that you can count on to get rid of them.
Identifying Common Area Ants
There are several ant species that you might come across in or around your Tucson home. Some of the more common species include fire ants, crazy ants, and pharaoh ants.
Fire ants grow to about an eighth of an inch long and can be black, red, or a combination of the two. These ants are known for inflicting painful stings that cause a burning sensation in the affected area.
Crazy antsgrow to be around three millimeters long and are dark-brown or black. They derive their name from the crazy manner in which they move around.
Pharaoh antsare small, only growing to be about two millimeters long. They have pale yellow bodies and sometimes feature red or black markings. Pharaoh ant colonies can reach populations into the hundreds of thousands, and their colonies can split into several new colonies when disturbed.
Factors That Attract Ants To Homes
Most of the ant species you come across are harmless nuisance pests. However, there are still local species that can cause harm to you or your home. No matter which species of ant you are dealing with, you need to know the factors that attract them.
Food
Ants will enter a home if there is food available; this could be food left out on the counter, spills that you haven’t cleaned up, or even trash that isn’t stored properly.
Moisture
Many ants like moisture. Therefore, if you have areas of moisture buildup or leaks somewhere in your home, you could be attracting ants.
Access
Some ants will enter a home simply because there are easy ways inside. Homes provide plenty of places for ants to build their nests, so if they can find a way in, they might just enter.
How To Prevent Ant Infestations
Once you understand the factors that attract ants, you can take the necessary measures to limit them. Here’s what you ought to be doing to limit your exposure to ant infestations:
Store all food in airtight containers or the fridge.
Keep countertops and floors clean and wipe up spills promptly.
Take out the trash regularly and store it in bins with tight-fitting lids.
Install dehumidifiers in areas with poor ventilation.
Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
Fill in cracks in your home’s foundation with caulk.
If you do find yourself dealing with an ant infestation in your Tucson home, don’t delay; contact the professionals here at Pest Friends right away. We offer high-quality ant control services that you can count on to eliminate any ant infestations on your property. Furthermore, we will also work with you to take the necessary steps to prevent future infestations. So give us a call today to learn more about our ant control solutions.