Tips And Tricks To Get Rid Of Ants In Huntsville
March 15, 2023
Ant control in Huntsville can feel like playing an endless game of whack-a-mole. You get rid of one anthill only to find another has taken its place in almost no time flat. But if you don't keep up with these wily little insects, they can derail your whole Huntsville pest control train.
The Life Cycle Of Common Ants
Virtually all ants have a very similar life cycle. They start out as eggs laid by the queen. Next, they hatch into larvae that are cared for by the colony. Those larvae then pupate and become adults. The overwhelming majority of these ants will become worker ants. Very few will become males, also called drones, and even fewer will become future queens.
Worker ants can have many different jobs, from foraging for food and protecting the anthill to caring for the colony's larvae. Whatever their role is, at the end of the day, they all work for the collective good and the ultimate survival of the colony. This is part of what makes ant control so difficult. Ants aren’t just individuals but small parts of a well-oiled machine.
How Dangerous Are House Ants?
Most of the time, the ants in your home will just be a nuisance. Species that you normally find inside your house, like odorous house ants and Argentine ants, are harmless other than being unsightly and annoying. However, there are exceptions.
Pharaoh ants, for instance, often invade homes all over the country, and these particular ants can spread several dangerous strains of bacteria, including streptococcus, staphylococcus, and salmonella. Carpenter ants are another dangerous ant species that can get into your home. Carpenter ants aren't a threat to your health, but because they tunnel through wood to build their colonies, they are a danger to your home itself. While these wood-destroying ants can't cause the kind of damage that termites can, a carpenter ant infestation can still run you thousands of dollars in repair costs.
Practical Ant Prevention Tips For Your Home
Effective ant control begins with effective ant prevention. It's much easier to keep ants away from your home than it is to try to deal with an infestation after the fact, especially when you consider the ineffectiveness of common over-the-counter ant control products. That's why the best (and easiest) thing you can do is keep ants away by making a few simple but effective lifestyle changes, such as:
- Cover all indoor and outdoor trash cans with tight lids at all times.
- Store pantry foods in airtight containers to block access and hide smells.
- Never leave pet food or dirty pet bowls sitting out.
- Clean up immediately after meals and never leave dishes in the sink.
- Don't keep things like uncovered cookie plates or fruit bowls on your counters.
Following these simple and easy ant prevention tips can help make your home a less inviting place for all ant species and encourage them to move on to easier pickings.
How Can I Permanently Get Rid Of The Ants In My House?
If you already have an ant infestation, getting rid of them can be challenging. Common over-the-counter ant control solutions often don't do much more than cause ant colonies to relocate just a few feet away from their original location. This is why you'll often see anthills pop up right next to the ones you just killed.
For the most effective and long-lasting indoor and outdoor ant control, contact us at Custom Pest Control. Our ant experts can help identify and eliminate all the ants in your house, no matter where they are or how large your infestation has grown. So don't wait until the ants take over your house. Click or call today.