Do you know why ants are such a headache to control? It is because most people don't really know all that much about them. Sure, you know ants are tiny insects with six legs that work together to gather food and live in colonies. But most of the common information people know about ants doesn't help them get rid of ant problems. If you hope to drive ants out and keep them out or guard your health and property, you need to know a few things about the different types of ants we have to deal with in the Greensboro area.
Join us as we break down all of the facts you need to know to get control of ants and avoid the inevitable headaches that come with ant control. As always, Go-Forth Pest Control is here if you need assistance with ant pest control in Greensboro. Our friendly and highly-trained technicians deal with ants all the time. They've seen just about every kind of ant issue. You're in good hands. With that said, let's take a look at how ant prevention and control work in Greensboro.
Should You Kill Ants You See Inside?
There are many ways you might attempt to address an ant problem. Killing ants is definitely one of them. But is it a good idea to kill ants? Sadly, the answer is no. When an ant dies, it releases an odor that alerts the colony to a threat. You might think that is a good thing because those ants will know to steer clear of your home. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect. It doesn't drive ants away; it attracts them.
Why do ants come running, and why do they collect workers that have died? You might think they'll do what they do with any other insect they collect—bring it back to the nest and eat it. But that isn't what is happening. The odor created by dead ants is from the release of oleic acid, which is potentially harmful to the other ants. Therefore, they collect and dispose of their dead in a burial location. The goal is to isolate the oleic acid and any other harmful material detected.
Ants are pretty smart, huh? They're so smart that they can outsmart you if you don't understand why they do the things they do. More often than not, DIY ant control leads to headaches because ants do mysterious things like collecting their dead and isolating dangerous materials.
The Problems An Ant Infestation Can Cause For Your Family
Ants can cause headaches when you attempt to control them, but they can also create literal physical headaches. How ants make people sick is another mystery. Most people don't understand the link between ants and illness. Here are a few facts that could help you avoid a headache or worse.
Why do ants cause headaches? It is because they pick up germs in trash bins and other unsanitary places and carry them into food storage areas or deposit them on dishes and cutting boards. After exposure to a germ, you won't know it until you start having symptoms, such as headaches, body aches, stomach aches, fever, or chills.
Some ant species do more than cause flu-like symptoms. They climb on decaying animals, open wounds, and fecal matter. These species are much dirtier than other ants. When they crawl around inside your home, they can spread diseases.
One particular ant is known for its sting. A fire ant sting presents another health threat entirely. A fire ant sting can present a serious risk to individuals with a stinging insect allergy. A reaction to fire ant venom can have life-threatening implications. It is very rare, but you should know that the danger exists. You should also know that an allergy can develop later in life.
In light of how ants can pose threats, it is essential to know how to keep ants away. There are even more mysteries to unravel regarding ant prevention tactics. Let's take a look at six simple-to-understand tips for keeping ants out of your home, along with the reasons these methods work to counteract the natural behavior patterns ants follow.
Six Simple Ways To Deter Ants On Your Own
Have you ever wondered how ants know to cross your entire lawn, pass over your landscaping, and get into your home to find food? The reality is that they don't. They find food in your yard. Then, they find food in your landscaping. When they come near your home, they find routes to enter. That is when you start seeing them getting into your stored foods. It is a natural process ants follow, and you can deter them.
- Address sources of nectar in your lawn. Ants love nectar. They eat it like we eat ice cream. You can expect ants to enter your yard if you have flowering weeds. Lawn weed control is a smart way to slow them down and prevent ants from creating colonies on your property.
- Address insects in your yard. Ants eat insects. They don't care if they are alive or dead. Reduce insect populations if you want fewer ants and fewer ant nests on your property. One way to do this is to keep lights off at night. Insects are attracted to light.
- Address honeydew in your landscaping. Many ants love honeydew. It is as desirable as nectar. Aphids, white flies, and other plant-damaging insects create honeydew. You need to manage these insect pests first if you hope to deter ants. Maintain healthy plants to prevent plant pests.
- Maintain dry landscaping and fix leaks like in outdoor faucets. Ants love moisture and will actively seek it out.
- Weatherproof your home. Everything you do to seal your exterior from the weather will also help seal it from pest entry. Ants get in through tiny gaps and cracks. A caulking gun is a great tool for dealing with these potential entry points. You may also use expanding foam.
- Keep the interior of your home as clean as possible. Poor sanitation will create an aroma that attracts ants. It will also provide food debris for ants to eat. Everything you do to reduce attractive smells and food options will work to prevent scout ants from finding food in your home and recruiting an army to enter.
Do you see how these ant prevention tips work together to keep your home ant-free? You don't need to buy shopping carts full of control products to deal with ants. You can control them simply by altering the conditions that cause them to move across your lawn and enter your house.
Call The Pros At The First Sign Of Ants In Your House
When you find ants in your home, you may not want to wait until your efforts to remove food options and attractive smells send them back out. You may want to, as many do, find a DIY home pest control solution for ants. We don't recommend doing this. Misapplied ant control products can actually make your problem worse. You might cause a colony to splinter into several colonies and end up with ants entering on multiple fronts. You may also inspire ants to create a nest inside your home. Additionally, you could also cause ants to become bait averse. It is harder to control ants that will no longer take the bait you lay out, which can increase the cost of professional ant control.
Contact Go-Forth Pest Control for ant removal services when you see ants inside your Greensboro home. We provide comprehensive ant control that targets and removes the source of your pest problem, namely, the colony sending the ants into your house. We also apply exclusion work to create a barrier that will help keep ants out.
Once we deal with the ants inside your home, we can give you advice regarding ongoing ant prevention to help you keep ants out. We offer industry-leading home pest control solutions for Greensboro residents. These services work to reduce insect activity in your yard and make it less interesting for ants. We also address pest activity in your landscaping, which reduces food options for ants. Most of all, we apply routine treatments to the exterior of your home that will keep ants and other pests out.
Along with residential pest control service plans, your Go-Forth Pest Control team also offers lawn care. Want to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful while reducing the nectar ants are searching for on your property? We can help!
If you're in Greensboro, contact your Go-Forth Pest Control service team today and discuss your options. We have many ways to help you address your pest concerns. And you don't have to wait until you have an ant problem. Contact us today to get ahead of all your pest problems. Jump to our Contact Us page and tell us what you're looking for with regard to home pest control or lawn care. We'll connect with you quickly and get you started in the right direction.
