No matter what season it is, an ant infestation isn’t always a welcome sight. Unfortunately, for many homeowners, an ant infestation isn’t something you can avoid entirely. While it’s true that you can do certain things to limit the number of ants that enter your home, sometimes it’s not enough. Understanding why they’re entering your house can be a very good starting point to help prevent future ant infestations.
One reason that ants make an entry into a home is that they are looking for food. When there is an abundance of food around, these pests tend to increase in numbers. In order to prevent this, a homeowner should regularly check their garden to make sure there is no food left uneaten. If you have a cat or dog, you should also check for leftover food. Another thing that can help prevent ants and other pests from entering the home is to block entry points. These can include wood floors, pet doors, and cracks in the foundation.
There are some instances when a homeowner won’t even realize that an ant infestation exists. For example, carpenter ants are one of the easiest insects to miss. They don’t leave any telltale clues as to where they’ve been living. One way to recognize carpenter ants is by looking for wings – they will appear swollen and might even have black dots underneath where the carpenter ants have found their shelter. This is one of the easiest signs to look for if you suspect carpenter ants are a problem.
Building nests for carpenter ants is another way they make an entry into a home. Typically, when carpenter ants build nests, they do so beneath the structure they live in. To do this, they use hollow tubes and other structures to create their nest. Once they build their nest, they will cover it with pieces of mulch and pine needles. Ants will also eat these materials to nourish their young. While it’s possible for you to detect a carpenter ant infestation in your house without a professional, most people have better luck getting rid of them once they know they’re there.
When looking for signs of ant infestations in a home, it may seem like certain things are routine. Things such as carpenter ants building nests and eating wood surfaces are considered normal. However, there are many more things that could indicate a problem. For example, there may be noticeable damage on wood surfaces from carpenter ants – sawdust and rotted areas are common signs of infestations.
If you have spotted signs of an ant infestation, there are a few things you can do to prevent harm from coming to your home. The first thing is to refrain from using pesticides indoors. There are some pests that thrive in the presence of pesticides, including fire ants and carpenter ants. If you must use pesticides, do so outdoors. You may need to call a professional company for pest control services. If you want to save yourself from damage due to fire ants and carpenter ants, then contact a residential pest control service to inspect your property and determine what needs to be done.