Ants are small, communal insects common to every part of the world. They live in highly structured colonies and are known for complicated social behavior. An ant nest will contain a queen, responsible for laying hundreds of eggs a day, larvae and pupa, ant young at different life cycle stages, male reproductives, and female non-reproductives that serve as workers and soldiers.
An ant's body consists of three basic parts, an oversized head, a slender abdomen, and a thorax. Most ants are reddish brown to black in color and range from 1/16 to 1 inch long.
In nature, ants serve as an ultimate garbage disposal service, helping compost organic matter and aerate the soil. Ants in your home, however, can be a sign of serious issues to come and often require professional ant control to clear out.
Let's take a look at the signs of ant infestation to watch for, the problems their presence in your home signifies, how to get rid of ants in your house, and where to find reliable pest control in Omaha if the DIY approach fails.
Does One Ant Mean I Have An Infestation?
Seeing a single ant making its way across your kitchen floor might not be much of a cause for worry since ant scouts can range quite far from the nest in search of food. On the other hand, it might signify a nest close by and require prompt pest control ant treatment.
Besides seeing live insects, here are some of the other signs of an ant infestation to watch for:
- Small piles of debris from the excavation of underground nests
- Ant pathways (many ant species use pheromones to mark the path they travel to lead other members of the nest to food)
- Ant swarmers in the early summer
- Small holes in wood and piles of frass left by carpenter ants
Seeing a winged ant, known as a swarmer, is always a sign of a problem. A single swarmer is capable of starting a whole new nest on your property.
What Problems Can Ants Create In My Home?
While most ants don't carry infectious diseases (pharaoh ants being an exception) or are likely to bite, an ant infestation is not something you should take lightly and often requires the involvement of a residential or commercial pest control professional.
Ants looking for food will discover your pantry in short order, spoil the food, and contaminate the surfaces they travel on. Pharaoh ants spread a number of contagious diseases, with salmonellosis, staphylococcus, and clostridium among them. Carpenter ants will tunnel through the wooden members of your home's structure, weakening them and requiring costly repairs to fix the damage.
Why Do I Have An Ant Infestation In My Home?
Things that attract pests looking to make their way into your home are readily available food, water, and a comfortable environment far from their natural predators.
Unfortunately, your home generously provides all three of those requirements for ants.
A couple of crumbs on the floor, dog food in the bowl, a spill of a sugary drink, or a plumbing leak will draw ants to your house like a magnet.
Combine those attractants with a way to get inside your walls, like a crack in the wall or a crevice in the foundation, and you've got an ant infestation on your hands that you best have an effective ant control solution to get rid of ants in your Omaha home.
What's The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Ants?
Ants multiply fast, and an infestation in advanced stages can have you dealing with hundreds of thousands of insects in your home. At Quality Pest Control, we've been helping Omaha residents find an effective ant control treatment to keep their homes ant free for over 26 years. Our service specialists are well-trained and experienced in identifying the signs of an infestation in its early stages before the damage to your home and your health occurs.
Call us today at Quality Pest Control for help with an ant infestation and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Omaha.
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