Spraying visible ants usually fails because the ants seen foraging over exposed surfaces is only a small portion of the colony. Typically, there will be thousands of additional ants including one or more egg laying queens hidden somewhere in a nest. Eliminating queens and other colony members within nests is often the key to effective ant control.Seattle pest control service will only focus on that aspect.
Ants Exterminators in a commercial environment ants are more than just a nuisance, costing a lot of money and harmful to reputations. This is particularly true in organizations that handle food like food processing plants and restaurants and bars, hospitals. Also in areas where there is a need to keep areas sterile in businesses such as healthcare facilities and pharmaceutical industries. Premises like warehouses and food retail stores that store food and water need to make sure the highest standards of hygiene are kept and that means being ant-free.
Ants inside homes or apartments can be a seasonal or year-round problem. Many ant species build the nests outdoors, and become a nuisance when foraging for food inside residences. Discovering a good food source may cause the ants to continue to come inside. Collecting food to take back to the outdoor colony. However, other ant species enter the interior of the building to build nests inside and become permanent indoor residents. Some of the more common ant species that may invade and choose to reside inside are pavement ants, carpenter ants, odorous house ants, thief ants, acrobat ants and pharaoh ants. Any of these ants can be challenging to control, but the pharaoh ant is known as one of the most, if not the most, difficult indoor ant to control. Outside and inside ants are usually a problem during the warmer spring, summer and fall months than during the winter.
Inside ants may be found near the food sources, in moisture hidden protected places like wall voids, under appliances, behind window frames and beneath floors. Ants are commensal pests that like to live close to people. Ants like to eat some of the same things people do. Like sweets, eats, starches and liquids. It isn’t surprising that the ants like to take up residence inside homes, apartments and office buildings.
Homeowner or building manager control ants: Most homeowners and building managers agree that ant control is one of the most worrisome problems because ants are frequently encountered and persistent. The perception is that there isn’t a single practice or strategy to control all ant infestations is entirely correct. Prevention and control activities often differ with various ant species, ant nest locations and the ant’s preferred foods. As with most other pest problems, using a complete, integrated pest control program works best. Some important components of a successful ant control service are:
Ants are the most frequent and persistent pests encountered around homes and buildings. Besides being a nuisance, ants contaminate food, build unsightly mounds on properties and cause structural damage by hollowing out wood for nesting. Species such as fire ants inflict painful stings, which can be life-threatening to hypersensitive individuals.
To most householders, all ants look pretty much alike. In truth, dozens of different species occur around homes and buildings, each having unique characteristics which may influence the method of control. In Washington State, the most common house-invading ants include pavement ants, carpenter ants, acrobat ants, pharaoh ants and odorous house ants. The latter species has become a particular nuisance in recent years, and will be discussed later in detail. Determining the type of ant infestation is often required the help of an entomologist or knowledgeable pest control service. Collecting a few of the non-winged worker ants in a plastic bag or vial will help with subsequent identification.
Correct identification is crucial because ants are not all the same. Different ant species may have very different behavior, habits and habitats. Knowledge-based ant control is one of the most important services that a pest control professional provides. Knowing where the ants are found is crucial to effective ant extermination.
Remove and minimize moisture since ants need moisture to survive and fix water leaks around pipes and anywhere on the roof. Make sure gutters and downspouts direct rain away from the house.
Keep things clean. Remove food particles in the kitchen and other places where food is served and eaten. Keep floors and cabinet tops clean. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Clean the dishwasher and other appliances regularly. Empty and clean trash containers. Keep foods that are attractive to ants in sealed containers or inside the refrigerator. Don’t forget to inspect the areas where food is eaten while watching television since most people like to snack while watching the show. When grilling and eating outdoors, be sure to clean the grill and remove any residue from the tables, deck or patio.
Implement exclusion techniques, so ants don’t get inside the home. Ant workers scouts (foragers) come inside through holes, cracks and gaps in the exterior of the home. Seal locations where wires, conduit or pipes enter the house. Keep tree limbs pruned so they never overlap or otherwise touch the house because ants can use branches to “trail” into the home. Since ants deposit and follow chemical scent trails, there is some value in removing these scent trails using a wet sponge or washcloth.
Keep ants away from the house by removing or minimizing the harborage sites. Don’t leave things near the home that may provide the protection and moisture the ant colony requires to prosper. Move mulch and landscape timbers at least 1-2 feet away from the foundation. Keep groundcover plants thinned out or totally remove them if possible.
Move debris away from the house. Remove rock piles or boards and do not allow anything that keeps soil moist to accumulate under the deck. Routinely inspect under splash blocks near the foundation. Remove any tree stumps, fallen logs or tree limbs. Keep firewood stored as far from the house as possible and do not bring firewood inside or store it in the garage.
Ants control service tips to using insecticides products, keep these things in mind:
Never spray an insecticide to control only the visible ants. This usually doesn’t work because its only targeting a small portion of the colony. Ant colonies consist of many workers, one or more queens, plus the ant larvae and pupae. Effective ants control of the colony depends on eliminating queens and the workers. Without doing so, the colony will continue to thrive and may even move to another location if the ants sense that some members of the colony are dying.
When doing ant control inside the home, the best option is to use insecticide baits that attract ants. Foraging ants think the bait is another food source, and take it back to the nest for the queen and other colony members to eat. With this method, the entire ant colony is controlled.
Do-it-yourself pest control for inside ants almost always challenges the average homeowner and often results in frustration and failure. Since these ants can be very difficult, it is best to seek expert advice and service by contacting a pest management professional.
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