Ant infestations are a massive issue when it comes to pest control in The Bay Area. It is incredible how something as tiny as an ant can cause so many problems for people. Ants are known as the number one nuisance pest in the United States.
Ant control solutions in the Bay Area are only effective if they remove the ants from your home and stop them from returning. To effectively remove ants and prevent reinfestation, you need to understand what kind of ants you may be seeing in your home and why the ants have chosen your home.
The Types Of Ants That Invade Bay Area Homes
It’s important to be aware of the most common ants in the Bay area. The three ant species you will most likely encounter in your Bay Area home are:
- Argentine ants: These ants are typically 1/16” to 1/4” in length. They are usually dark brown in color.
- Carpenter ants: These ants are typically 1/2” to 5/8” in length. They may be red, black, brown, or a combination of red and black.
- Odorous house ants: These ants are typically 1/16” to 1/8” in length. They can be either brown or black.
The three ants are different yet share similar methods for entering your home.
The Issues Ant Infestations Create In Homes
Many people have never considered the problems that ant infestations inside their homes can create.
Argentine ants and odorous house ants contaminate your food, costing you money and making things inconvenient. One of the biggest problems with Argentine ant infestations is that they reproduce quickly, so reinfestation occurs often.
Carpenter ants can cause damage to the structure of the home. Carpenter ants chew the wood framing of the dwelling to create a place for their colony to live. They weaken the structural integrity of the building and cause you to spend much money trying to replace damaged wood and prevent further problems.
Five Naturally Effective Ant Prevention Tips
These Bay Area ant prevention methods provide you with a means of keeping ants out in the first place.
- Store trash properly and keep trash cans clean.
- Seal cracks or gaps in your exterior siding.
- Create a 20-foot perimeter around the house by clearing tree branches and vegetation away.
- Fix any water leaks and replace any wood damaged by water.
- Clean up crumbs and store all foods in sealed containers.
Not every home has the same issues causing the ant problems. The solutions that work best to keep carpenter ants from moving in do not work as well to keep odorous house ants from becoming unwanted guests. For the most effective results, you must identify the ant species and find how they are getting into the home.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation For Good
The most reliable method of eliminating ants in your Bay Area home today and in the future is to call a residential pest control company like Bay Pest. We will send a highly trained technician to identify your problem and help you create a treatment and prevention strategy.
When you are dealing with ants, trying to find food, water, and shelter, you cannot let your guard down. Once you discover their presence, you must stay diligent in keeping them from returning. Bay Pest can help get rid of ants and keep them away. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in the Bay Area.