Whether you’re in an office building, retail storefront, restaurant, or small business space, an ant problem can become overwhelming and costly in the blink of an eye. Because they breed and set up intricate colonies rapidly, they can be difficult to notice until the problem is already unmanageable. Follow this guide to remove ants from your business and prevent future pest problems.
Why are ants coming into your business?
First and foremost, ants, like many pests, are always looking for their next food source. Once a scout ant has located a food source, they bring in its colony to carry the food back to the ant colony. Ants will keep returning to the food source to find more, even if the initial source has been eliminated. Ants are attracted to sweetness—sticky spills of soda, sugary treats, fruits, perfumes, lotions, and beauty products can all attract them to your workplace.
Stagnant water is another common reason ants enter an indoor space since they need a nearby water source to establish colonies. Leaking pipes or puddles near floor drains or even near the exterior of a building can create the exact environment they’re looking for. Holes or cracks in your walls, baseboards, or underneath doors can be the ideal environment to set up their colony.
Do ants bite?
Some do, yes. Like many pests, ants will bite or sting if they feel threatened and try to defend themselves from a human. But there are many species of ants, meaning the severity of an ant bite or sting can vary from inconsequential to the painful. The most common ants that bite or sting are fire ants, carpenter ants, and flying ants. Fire ants can leave painful, itchy blisters on your skin after a bite. Most ant bites usually go away after about one week, but they can also cause allergic reactions in some people.
How long does it take to get rid of ants?
Ants can be difficult to remove because of the sheer size of their ability to hide in spaces humans can’t easily reach. Queen ants can live up to 15 years and, unless addressed, can set up new colonies even once the majority of a previous colony is gone.
How long it takes to get rid of ants depends on your removal methods, how well-established they are, and the ease of access to their colony. With Hawx, you can trust us to address all of these obstacles and tackle your ant problem with confidence.
How to get rid of ants in your business
How do you prevent ants from coming into your business? Proper food storage, including pet foods, snacks, or food samples, is the first step to prevention. Ask your employees to store food in sealed containers in break rooms, cubicles, and on your retail counters. Keep all prep spaces free of crumbs or food debris to prevent a scout ant from marking your business as a food source. Maintaining a dry environment, repairing minor leaks, and preventing water from pooling near your entrances or exits are other great ways to deter ants. Quickly repair cracks or holes in walls and baseboards and ensure doors and windows have tight seals to prevent ants from accessing your indoor spaces.
Premium pest control services
At Hawx Pest Control, we take our commitment to solving commercial pest problems seriously. We follow a standardized, sophisticated model to handle any pests wreaking havoc in your commercial space. Each job is assigned a manager to provide you with the individualized service you need. Our on-site technicians are trained in the latest technologies in the pest control industry.
We customize each pest control plan to meet the specific needs of each business, meaning you’ll get the attention you need. Our four core values of honesty, attitude, work ethic, and excellence push us to be the best. Breathe that overdue sigh of relief when you see our stellar results.
