No matter where you go in Florida, it can sometimes seem like it is impossible to get away from ants. These tiny bugs are invasive, dangerous, and some species can be destructive. If you are seeing any type of ant around your home, Florida Sun Termite and Pest Control are here to help. Some of our Crawfordville pest control specialists have over 20 years of experience dealing with all of the common ant species in this area. We are committed to keeping your home pest-free and know the best way to keep ants away from your property.
Ant Communication: How Infestations Develop And Spread
Ants typically live in large colonies consisting of three castes; the queen, the male reproductives, and the workers. The reproductive ants will typically spend their entire lives inside of the nest. However, the worker ants are tasked with finding food for the colony members and will usually leave the nests regularly to forage for food.
Most ants in Crawfordville like to build their nest under piles of wood, in between the cracks of pavement, inside of wooden objects, or in any other outdoor area. However, once food becomes scarce outdoors, some worker ants may venture into your home to look for food. If they can find food, they will emit a strong-smelling pheromone that will tell the other ants where to go to get a snack. Over time, many ants will start to migrate into your home and could even set up a new nest inside your home.
Ant Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Ant Infestation
We commonly underestimate ants because they are so small, so many people mistakenly think they are harmless animals, but in reality, they can cause a lot of problems in and around your home.
Carpenter ants are common in this area. These ants can bite when provoked, but the real problem is what they can do to your home. Carpenter ants are known to dig small, round, and smooth holes into the wooden surfaces of your home. Once inside the wood, they will start to excavate it to make room for the thousands of colony members that will soon live inside the wooden structure. When the nest starts to become large, it could affect the structural integrity of the wooden surface. Fire ants are another problem in this area. They can sting you, which could cause allergic reactions in some people.
Even if the ant doesn't bite or sting, it could still cause problems if it invades your home. Ants can carry a wide range of bacteria that they can easily spread to you. Some illnesses you can contract from an ant infestation include salmonellosis, E. coli infections, and streptococcus.
Ant Prevention Is Key: Effective Tips And Tricks
If you want to keep ants out of your home, some of the easiest things that you can try are:
- Keep all pantry food in a sealed container.
- Sweep and mop around your home often.
- Keep your yard well-maintained.
Ants will invade your property if they think that there is a safe place for them to build a nest. By keeping your yard and home clean, you might disturb their nesting areas, which reduces your chances of an ant infestation.
Professional Ant Control: A Great Way To Keep Ants Out For Good
The easiest way to keep ants out of your home for good is to give us a call to get started with professional home pest control in Crawfordville. At Florida Sun Termite and Pest Control, we go above and beyond to ensure we permanently remove every pest from your home. Contact us for a free estimate.