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About Ants & How to Get Rid of Them

ants infestations pest controlAnts are one of the most common household pests. Part of this is because ants are just so numerous. A single colony can contain millions of members.

There are over 12,000 different kinds of ants throughout the world, from the leaf cutter ant to dangerous fire ants. Some of the most common ant species found in the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys are carpenter ants, field, pavement, and harvester ants. While these ants won’t present a health danger to your family, they can ruin food supplies, undermine the structures of your home, and give irritating bites.

What they look like

It’s not hard to identify whether or not a bug is an ant. They’re distinctive for their body partitioned into three distinct parts (made up of the head, thorax, and abdomen) as well as their antennae. However, identifying what kind of ant is invading your space is another story. Often, that takes a professional. Properly identifying ants that are invading your home or yard is important because it will determine what sorts of dangers the ants present, and which pest control methods will be most effective. It can even help us find where the nest is in order to prevent future infestations.

Often, the biggest sign of an infestation will be the ants themselves making their way into places where they’re unwelcome. However, some ants leave other traces. For example, one of the most common species found in Utah homes is the black carpenter, which can damage furniture and house foundations. Because carpenter ants chew through wood instead of eating it like termites do, they leave sawdust-like traces where they nest and burrow.

Why do ants infest homes?

Ants often come into our homes in order to access our food. They are very sensitive to smells, especially scents from sweet or greasy foods. They can enter the very tiniest cracks and holes in the house, even screens. When ants enter your home, they leave a pheromone trail that allows other ants from their colony to follow.

Most do-it-yourself pest control methods with ants will rid you of the visible ants in your home. However, it doesn’t account for the ants’ nest which might be located in your basement, or back or front yard. Professional pest control methods ensure that the present problems is eradicated, and that future infestation is prevented.

Why ants can be dangerous

What sort of damage ants can do depends on the species. For example, pavement ants burrow in little holes under your pavement. This means that they can contribute to cracked and shifting pavement on your driveway, walkways, and in your house’s foundation. Carpenter ants burrow into wood, damaging furniture and wooden supports of your house. They can be very destructive. Other ants are attracted by the smell of food, and become a major nuisance in your kitchen. Still, others bite and sting, which can be an irritation.

How to get rid of ants

Clearing out an infestation will consist of a few steps. First of all, one of our experienced professionals will evaluate and identify the pest, determining what species of ant is present and what the extent of the problem is. Next, we will use targeted pest control to destroy the ants present in your home. However, the job isn’t complete until we’ve continued our service, identifying the source/nest, and preventing future infestations.

 

Ready to get rid of those ants? Learn more about our Pest Control Services today, or give us a call at 801-226-2261.