Pest Control in Elizabeth City is a job that can really get out of hand. Because we’re so close to the water, our city is prime real estate not only for ourselves, but for any number of nuisance pests and wildlife. Most of these critters make awful roommates, so it’s worth keeping tabs on the most common ones that homeowners may deal with throughout the year.
Today, we’re examining one of nature’s most common (and successful) creatures: ants. While ants usually don’t pose too much of a threat to us, and are even kept as pets by some hobbyists, a full-blown infestation of ants can really grow out of hand quickly.
Once ants have infested a property, there’s not much the average homeowner can do on their own. We’re looking at how to diagnose an infestation of ants and what to do if your property is being overrun by these pests.
Are You Dealing With An Ant Infestation?
To diagnose an infestation of ants in Elizabeth City, it’s important to learn a little bit about their habits and motives. By understanding these points, homeowners can follow the appropriate course of action to deter or remove ants from their property. Knowledge is power!
What do ants eat? Pretty much everything, though they favor sugars and proteins. If you want to know how to keep ants away, it comes down largely to cleanliness and food and waste storage.
One or two ants in the home isn’t usually a problem and is quite common in warm regions. That said, once more are spotted and they don’t seem to be going away despite your best efforts, you may have an infestation on your hands.
The Problems An Ant Infestation Can Cause For Your Family
Once an ant colony has infested a home, one could be forgiven for wondering, “Do ants sleep?” Their constant activity and ability to act as a cohesive unit means that ants can work round-the-clock to expand their nests, which can mean more territory lost for the homeowner.
Ants are voracious eaters and can leave scent trails for any ants in tow that will be sure to attract more and more waves of insects to your home – if provided a free meal. Because ants build their nests underground and out of sight, an ant infestation is extremely difficult to get rid of, and in some cases, detect.
Thankfully, homeowners still have plenty of options and tools at their disposal.
Why Do-It-Yourself Ant Control Usually Fails
Ant pest control is not for the average homeowner. Only professionals stand a chance at eradicating an infestation of ants once one has fully taken hold of a property. Ants are used to surviving far harsher conditions than anything you or I could throw at them.
Why is this? On one hand, ants tend to burrow and build nests out of sight – often entirely underground. That means that your chances of eliminating all of the ants in even a single colony on your property without damaging it significantly are slim to none.
There are a number of reasons why homeowners are usually no match for an invading ant colony. Not least among them are the way ants communicate. These animals use pheromones and scents to signal to other ants in the colony. A homeowner may try to kill or remove a stray ant when they see one, but they may well accidentally trigger the nearby ants’ aggression, making things worse.
There are even recorded cases of ants forming their own bridges over gaps in terrain, water features, and other obstacles to get to a food source. Once a colony of ants has its sights set on a task, very little will deter them.
How Do The Professionals Get Rid Of Ants?
Professional home pest control solutions are far more intricate and effective than any DIY solutions out there. Many of the same techniques are used, such as traps or chemicals (such as a boric acid solution), though these are often bespoke mixtures that are targeted to a specific ant species’ dietary needs at that time of year.
The pros also have experience dealing with ants, and know these insects’ habits intimately. By knowing how the ants will behave to each and every type of stimuli, pest control is able to assess and target ant infestations accurately.
If you want to know how to get rid of ants on your property, it’s simple – pick up the phone and call the pros!