Exclusive Guide To Ant Prevention

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Scientifically reviewed by Daniel Baldwin, BCE, CCFS, CP-FS

-Published on February 20, 2020

-Updated on September 19, 2023

No one likes finding a trail of ants crawling through their house. Unfortunately, our area is highly susceptible to ant infestations. No matter what type of ants you’re dealing with, they are upsetting to discover. Not only are they irksome to see, but there are many potential problems that can result from an ant infestation.

No one likes finding a trail of ants crawling through their house. Unfortunately, the U.S. is highly susceptible to ant infestations. Three main types of ants:

Argentine Ants: These ants can feed on a wide variety of food throughout your home. They are light to dark brown and have a slight bend in their antennae. They tend to invade homes in the hot summer months to escape the heat. They colonize under buildings, in moist soil, and beneath floorboards. You can usually spot a foraging trail, indicating Argentine ant activity.
Carpenter Ants: These are the largest ants you might find in your home. They’re black, or a mixture of red and black, and they have long thin antennae. They destroy wood by creating tunnels in which they nest. This can lead to serious structural damage. You may find wood shavings left behind or see swarmer ants flying around looking for new nesting areas.
Fire Ants: These aggressive ants bite any creature that gets in their way. They release a venom that causes a burning sensation, hence their fiery name. They like to nest in wide, open areas, and their nests usually appear as sandy mounds in the earth. Other signs of fire ants can be the movement of the worker ants and swarmer ants.

No matter what type of ants you’re dealing with, they are upsetting to discover. Not only are they irksome to see, but there are many potential problems that can result from an ant infestation. Consider the following dangers when it comes to the presence of ants in your home:

Structural damage: Carpenter ants can seriously threaten the construction of your property. They infest building materials like wood and foam insulation. They can chew on electrical cables.
Moisture problems: Carpenter ant infestation is usually the sign of a larger moisture control issue.
Disease: Ants can get into food sources and contaminate them. They walk around in unsanitary areas like garbage and decaying matter, spreading germs and diseases around the home, leaving you and your loved ones vulnerable to diseases like E.coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Shigella, and other bacterial infections.
Bites: Some ants do bite and inject their venom into your body. This can lead to inflamed skin, cramps, headaches, and other adverse health effects that should be tended to by a medical professional.

If it’s not obvious from this list of adverse effects, ant infestations should be avoided at all costs. The best way to avoid an ant infestation is to be proactive. Now is as good a time as any to start taking the proper preventative measures to protect your property from the perils of ant activity. The following preventative measures are a good place to start:

Maintain a high level of cleanliness and practice proper sanitation.
Clean up spills and crumbs and keep food in tightly sealed containers.
Wipe down counters, sticky jars, or residue as these attract ants.
Take out garbage regularly and keep it in a trashcan outside with a tight-fitting lid.
Don’t leave pet food out and store it in sealed plastic containers.
Eliminate any standing water and any sources of excess moisture.
Repair leaky pipes, faulty facets, and malfunctioning drains.
Use a dehumidifier in damp areas of the house like basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
Maintain functional downspouts and gutters to keep water flowing away from the foundation.
Eliminate access points by sealing all cracks and crevices on the outside of the home.
Keep branches, trees, and bushes well-trimmed away from the house.

Hawx Pest Control offers the best in residential and commercial pest control services. We guarantee the ultimate protection when it comes to ant infestations. Contact us today for a consultation.

Social Media: Georgia is crawling with many different species of ants. Ant infestations pose a number of threats to your health and the structural integrity of your home. Hawx Pest Control is here to help.

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