Ants are some of the most common pests to infest New England homes. But just because they are a familiar sight doesn't mean you need to live with them. If ants are marching through your home, garden, and other parts of your property, it is an excellent time to learn more about ant pest control in Plymouth.
This comprehensive guide will provide information on preventing and controlling these persistent insects. We'll start by exploring the life cycle of ants and how their colonies develop. This knowledge helps to explain how ants can become such a big problem in such a short amount of time and why they can be so difficult for homeowners to control.
People often dismiss ants as nuisance pests that eventually go away, but these relentless pests can cause many problems for your home and family. We'll explain more about the most common species that infest local homes and the potential threats they bring with them.
If you're like most people, you've already been attempting to control these insects with store-bought products marketed as ant control for homeowners, and you've likely seen that these products don't live up to their hype. Ant baits and sprays can help to eliminate a few workers, but if you are dealing with an infestation, these products aren't enough.
We'll also review why professional ant control in Plymouth is the best option for an ant infestation. Local companies like Combat pest control understand the problems families have with local pests. We have over 25 years of experience helping our neighbors keep their homes and families safe from troublesome pests.
Finally, we'll provide some simple, practical tips to help you prevent ants from returning. Proactive prevention is one of the best ways to keep ants and other pests out of your house. Continue reading to learn more about the best way to get rid of ants and how to keep them from coming back with the pros at Combat Pest Control.
The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
Ant colonies develop in a few different ways, depending on the species. A carpenter ant colony, for example, begins when a new queen flies away from the old colony and finds a mate and a suitable nest location. This new queen then drops her wings, lays eggs, and tends to them while they mature.
This original brood goes through the stages of metamorphosis, transforming from egg to legless larvae, then pupating into adults. These first adults are all workers, and all worker ants are sterile females. They take over caring for immatures, tending to the nest, and foraging for food, and the queen's only job is laying new eggs.
After a few years, mature carpenter ant colonies can grow to tens of thousands of workers. At this point, the queen will begin producing winged reproductives, sometimes called swarmers or alates. If you see a carpenter ant with wings on your Plymouth property, this is a clear sign of a mature colony nearby and a new one forming soon.
Another common Plymouth ant, the European fire ant (aka red ants), sometimes uses a different approach to starting a new nest. These ants can form new colonies through a process called budding. In this case, a mated queen leaves the nest with a group of worker ants from the current colony and forms a new one.
Most ant colonies in this area, including carpenter, sugar, and pavement ants, have only one functional queen at a time. Mature carpenter ant colonies can have over 50,000 workers, and sugar and pavement ants tend to have 10,000 to 15,000 individuals. But red fire ants on your property can have multiple queens with multiple nests forming what is known as super colonies.
Knowing that there are thousands upon thousands of ants in a colony makes it much easier to understand how one or two ants in the kitchen one day can quickly become a severe infestation the next. Professional ant pest control is the most effective way to eradicate a colony and its queen. Contact us today at Combat Pest Control to learn more about our services or to request a free estimate to eliminate ants in your home.
Ant Problems: Ants In The Home Can Be More Than A Nuisance
If you ask someone the first thought that comes to mind at the mention of ants, the answers might include frustrating, annoying, and a nuisance. But with most ants, you can add the word hazardous to the list.
Some ants in this area endanger your family's health, and others can damage the structure of your home. We'll briefly list some of the problems ants on your property or inside your home can cause and then explain more below:
- Pavement and sugar ants in your kitchen can contaminate food and surfaces.
- Black carpenter ants in your home can cause structural damage.
- Red fire ant bites and stings are painful and can result in an allergic reaction to venom for some people.
- An ant infestation can also attract other pests that prey on them.
Outdoors, ants travel through garbage, animal waste, and decaying matter and pick up pathogens. When they enter your home, they have the potential to spread dangerous germs and bacteria onto any food and surfaces they come in contact with.
Carpenter ants in your house are one of the most hazardous species. Unlike termites that eat the wood, these ants excavate it to create nesting galleries and tunnels. Over time, carpenter ants can weaken the structural integrity of your home.
European fire ants, which most people call red ants, have stingers that inject venom. Unlike southern fire ants, these ants do not build noticeable mounds, and people or their pets can accidentally disturb them without knowing there is a nest. Stings can cause a similar reaction to a bee sting and can be very dangerous for people allergic to their venom.
An infestation of ants can also attract predators that prey on them, including spiders such as the black widow, bats, and beetles. Promptly eliminating an ant infestation will help you to avoid attracting other pests. Contact Combat Pest Control to learn more about our home pest control services in Plymouth or to request a free inspection.
Professional Ant Control: A Great Way To Get Rid Of An Infestation
The most efficient and effective way to eradicate an infestation is to work with a company that offers ant control near you. Professional pest control technicians can assist you with determining the species that are infesting your home, how they are getting in, and the best way to eliminate them and prevent them from coming back.
Most species of ants in this area look very similar, and misidentifying them can cause people to assume they have a nuisance species when it is a more hazardous one. Correctly identifying the type of ant infesting your home is also essential to formulating a plan for elimination and preventing reinfestations.
We suggest you seek professional assistance at the first signs of carpenter ants around your home or property. Because this species endangers the structure of your home, attempting DIY ant control isn't worth the risk. Red ants are another species better left to the pros because of the risk of dangerous stings.
No matter what species of ant you have, Combat Pest Control has a solution. Whether you require ant control in your house or yard, our pest control technicians know what it takes to eliminate and prevent ants from returning. Contact us today with any questions or to request a free estimate.
Ant Prevention Tips: Keep Your Home Ant-Free
After we eliminate your ant problem, it is time to take steps to prevent them from returning. Here are some practical DIY ant prevention tips to get you started:
- Eliminate any moisture issues, including leaks and areas with standing water.
- Keep the kitchen tidy, immediately clean up spills and crumbs, and avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
- Seal cracks and gaps around the foundation, windows, and doors by filling gaps with silicone-based caulk to eliminate potential entryways.
- Remove any wood that has water damage to help prevent a carpenter ant infestation.
- Preventative fire ant control requires mowing tall grass, pruning back overgrown shrubbery, and reducing irrigation.
The best way to prevent ants from infesting your home again is to collaborate with the pros at Combat Pest Control. We offer multiple preventative pest control service packages to keep your home pest-free year-round. Three scheduled visits in the spring, summer, and fall can help to protect your home from ants, and other pests, including termites, fleas and ticks, and rodents, depending on the package you choose.
Regular pest inspections and treatments are the simplest and most effective way to protect your home and family from problematic pests. Contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Plymouth or to request a free estimate and get back to having the safe, pest-free property you and your family deserve.
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