The precise number of ants on Earth is nearly impossible to determine, but estimates place the total at around ten billion. Occasionally, it might seem like a sizable number of those ants are marching through our houses.
It is not shocking to find ants in a messy home. The tiny scavengers are very efficient at locating and utilizing food sources. You would see your Columbia home covered in ant trails, and you might even have an entire colony of them huddling close to your house. However, how can you possibly have ants in your spotless, pristine home?
Ants typically enter homes searching for food or a place to lay their eggs. Crumbs from pet food are one example of a small amount of food that can draw swarms of aggressive ants. Therefore, keeping food out of reach, cleaning up every day, and maintaining a tidy environment are great ways to keep ants out, but your efforts are only sometimes effective. Ant pest control professionals can only do that.
If you start noticing a few ants in your home, where those came from, there are likely a lot more. Turn to Go-Forth Pest Control, your local Columbia pest control experts, to stop a few ants from becoming a full-blown ant infestation.
The Habits Of Common Ants
Because of the varying climate and weather conditions in South Carolina, different species of ants can successfully establish and maintain their colonies here. While this may be the case, you will likely have problems with ants trying to enter your home, searching for food, water, and a place to shelter themselves. The following species of ants are among the most common ants that you might find attempting to invade your South Columbia home:
- Fire Ants: Fire ants are frequently bright red or dark red in color and love the warm southern climates. Although they are among the smallest ants around (the majority are under 1/5 inch in size), you frequently discover them in large groups. These ants build substantial underground nests in the sunny areas of your yard because they enjoy the warmth. Fire ants aren't typically a pest around the house, but because they bite and are in large groups, they can make it difficult for families to enjoy their backyard. You will experience a very unpleasant sting after being bitten by one of these ants. Fire ant bites can cause anaphylactic shock in those allergic to them. Even though these ants prefer to construct their homes underground, you might also come across them near tree stumps or around rotting logs or stumps. They are a readily distinguishable species of South Carolina ants because their mounds can range in height from 16 to 24 inches.
- Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants differ from other ants in part due to their size. If you find ants in your home between 5/8 inch and 1/2 inch in length, they are likely carpenter ants because they are among the biggest ants in the world. Most carpenter ants are black, but some can also be red, yellow, or a combination of those colors. As their name suggests, these ants live inside of wood and threaten the structural integrity of almost any building. These ants prefer their habitat to be damp and dark, so they seek out stacked areas of wood or wood products. They are also more active at night. Although these ants lack stingers, the tip of their abdomen can release formic acid, irritating your skin. Keep an eye out for swarms when these ants grow wings in the spring.
- Pavement Ants: Although they are frequently mistaken for carpenter ants, they are much smaller and can be either red or black. These ants are only 1/16 to 1/8 inch in size and have only two body parts, unlike the typical three. These ants are known as "pavement" ants because they are usually in driveways, sidewalks, or other concrete or asphalt structures. However, because they consume almost any kind of food, they can also become pests in homes. If you do discover them inside, there is probably a nest outside close to your foundation. Despite their small size, these ants have teeth, so be careful not to step on a colony. Although not poisonous, their bites will hurt.
If you've exhausted all your DIY options and cannot get rid of these pests, Go-Forth Pest Control can help. After being in the pest control business for 60-plus years, there's a good chance we've dealt with this before. We are the most qualified and best pest control company for ants. Today is the day to give us a call.
The Issues Ant Infestations Create In Homes
Ants are known to present several challenges for homeowners. They are a bothersome pest whose large numbers have the potential to make people feel helpless. Ants will frequently enter a home in search of food or moisture. Because of this, they will often travel through the kitchen on their way to target the countertops and pantries. Ants can contaminate human and animal food supplies in their quest for food. All species of ants will make their way into your kitchen when the right conditions are present.
In addition, certain species of ants are responsible for structural damage in the home. Carpenter ants, for instance, will chew their way through the wooden floors in your home to construct their nests. Some species of ants can find their way into your electrical system.
It’s also important to remember that these tiny pests are food sources for other, more significant pests, such as the brown recluse and black widow spiders. Aside from contamination and structural damage to your home, delaying eliminating ants will bring about an entirely different set of pest problems to your home.
To avoid all the issues that come with having a lingering ant infestation in your home, contact Go-Forth Pest Control at the sight of a single ant.
All The Factors That Attract Ants To Homes
If you are asking, “why are there ants in my house? Just know you’re not alone.
Ant issues begin outside the home. Areas with standing water and readily available food sources, such as garbage cans and debris, draw ants. If your yard is untidy, an ant colony may decide to establish itself there. Ant colonies need to start foraging for more food sources as they expand. Ants typically enter homes during this time in search of food, much to the angst of homeowners.
They can enter homes through pipes, cracks in walls, openings in doors, windows, and screens, as well as crevices in both brick and wood because they are tiny and can fit through even the smallest spaces and cracks. They are attracted to decay, food waste, moisture, and unsealed leftovers. If you discard food, don't store it well, or have leaky faucets or pipes, you are much more likely to find them in your home. Leaky faucets and pipes also indicate that you may need a plumber's services.
If you have an ant problem, you will likely see dozens of ants crawling across your countertops and other areas where food is frequently left out. It is also possible for you to see them trying to find water in the sinks in your kitchen and bathroom. Because ants leave behind scent trails to mark the way to food sources as they establish a colony in a new location, you may notice that the ants are marching in straight lines as they follow one another.
If you start noticing these behaviors around your South Carolina home, contact Go-Forth Pest Control for fast and effective ant control near you.
How To Get Rid Of Ants For Good
Ants are notoriously difficult to treat. Please contact a professional home pest control company if ants have made their way into your Columbia home. You can only eliminate ant infestations with professional pest control services because the nest, which is the source of the infestation, must be treated with pesticides that are not available to the general public.
At Go-Forth Pest Control, we treat ant infestations by getting to the source of the problem and treating them with high-quality products. You can eliminate ants with our exterminators, who will also provide you with ant prevention tips on how to avoid them in the first place. Get in touch with us as soon as possible if you have any suspicions that you may have an ant infestation.
