Nothing says 'takeout for dinner' quite like a pantry full of contaminated food, but that's the harsh reality for thousands of homeowners after they discover an odorous house ant infestation. Odorous house ants aren't dangerous pests by any means, but an infestation will still put a strain on your food budget. This particular species is troublesome to eradicate, so you need to learn everything you can about these nuisance pests if you want to keep your Bay Area home protected this year.
Does Having Odorous House Ants In My Home Mean It's Dirty?
While pests such as odorous house ants prefer dirty homes, excessive grime isn't necessary for them to infest your home. Pests will infest any home, regardless of how clean or dirty it is, simply because man-made structures provide stable nesting conditions. There are a few explanations as to why odorous house ants infest properties:
- Leaky pipes, moisture problems, or extensive water damage.
- Cracks in the foundation of your home or damaged siding.
- Crumbs on the floor, often underneath heavy appliances.
- Improperly-stored pantry food or dirty dishes in the sink.
- Extreme weather conditions, such as low temperatures, heavy rain, or extreme heat.
Most of these attractive qualities are preventable, but unavoidable situations like extreme weather and minor household damage will happen to any homeowner.
Will Odorous House Ants Go Away On Their Own?
As long as odorous house ants have access to food and water in and around your home, they won't be going anywhere. Colonies can survive on mere crumbs, so if you already have an infestation, effective ant control isn't as easy as proper food storage. Odorous house ants will also forage outside if indoor food and water access run dry, but because homes offer such excellent shelter, the chances of leaving on their own are slim to none.
Can I Prevent Odorous House Ants From Infesting My Home?
Since ants are such tiny pests, they're able to squeeze through the smallest of cracks to infest homes, so preventing ants is incredibly difficult without professional assistance. It's still best to stay proactive about pest prevention, so while they might not guarantee protection, there are plenty of ways to reduce your chances of an infestation:
- Address moisture issues in and around your home – aerate your lawn, clean out gutters, fix leaky pipes, and repair roof damage.
- Invest in a dehumidifier for moisture-retaining rooms like the bathroom, laundry room, basement, and kitchen.
- Install tight-fitting lids on all indoor and outdoor trash cans.
- Practice proper food storage by storing pantry foods in airtight containers.
- Never leave food or dirty dishes sitting out overnight.
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly to keep food particles off of your floor.
- Clean up food and drink messes as soon as possible.
- Seal up any potential entry points around the exterior of your home – foundation, siding, pipes, electrical wires, door frames, and window frames.
At-home prevention methods will make your home less susceptible to pests like odorous house ants, but the only way to guarantee complete protection is with the help of your local Bay Area pest control company.
How Can I Get Rid Of Odorous House Ants For Good?
Odorous house ants aren't just difficult to prevent; they're also tough pests to eradicate. These ant colonies usually have multiple queens that eventually create satellite colonies to help build their population. A startled nest will form satellite colonies as well, and the most common way homeowners startle nests is by attempting at-home extermination. Don't depend on guesswork if you need to get rid of ants in your Bay Area home. Rely on expert assistance from our pest professionals at Bay Pest Solutions Inc.
As a local company with over 40 years of pest control experience, we know all the best ways to get rid of odorous house ants. We offer a wide range of tailored pest control treatment options to meet your needs, preventative treatments to keep difficult pests away, and our very own pest-free guarantee with unlimited follow-up visits. Pests don't have to be dangerous to create a stressful home environment, so get in contact with us today to learn more about our treatment options.