Like so many pests, ants tend to be more active in the summer. That’s why you notice more ants during the warm months, and why you are more likely to see ant hills in the yard. It’s also the time of year when you may see more ants in your home.
If ants are building hills in your yard, there is always a chance that they will decide to enter your home. There are several reasons ants come into our homes.
One thing that attracts ants into a home is the availability of water, especially when the weather has been dry and they are having difficulty finding water outside. Ants, especially citronella ants, are attracted to moist areas in a home, particularly areas that hold moisture, such as damaged wood.
Odorous house ants, on the other hand, come into houses looking for food. These are tiny (1/8 inch long) ants that live in large groups. They are attracted to foods that are high in protein, grease, and oils, such as cheeses and meats. They also may be attracted to sweet foods.
While ants aren’t really dangerous (although some people can have an allergic reaction to them) most people would prefer to not have them in their homes. Odorous house ants might start out simply eating or carrying away small crumbs of food that landed on the floor, but eventually they may enter your pantry and get into the packages of food you have stored there. This can result in wasted food and money.
Why DIY Treatments Can Fail
Many homeowners try to treat ants by themselves--and quickly realize it’s a difficult task. When treating ants, it’s important to know what kind of ants you are dealing with. Different ants respond to different kinds of bait, and to get rid of all ants you must select the correct baits.
Another problem is that it’s hard to know how much bait to use. Some colonies, such as colonies of odorous house ants, can be huge. In this case, if you don’t put out enough bait to kill the entire colony, it will simply keep growing.
Instant-kill products are also ineffective in eliminating the colony. When worker ants die as soon as they are exposed to the product, they can’t carry it back to the colony where it could kill more ants.
We Can Help
The best way to eliminate ants from your home and property is to call Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators. Our trained technicians will inspect your property to identify and assess the infestation. The technician will then devise a treatment plan that will target the specific ants on your property to make sure they’re eliminated.
Call us today to find out about our pest control options and to arrange a home inspection.