Strong, friendly, and hardworking, the positive image of ants is entrenched in the media and our culture. And for a good reason, ants are incredibly beneficial to the environment around us and close to harmless as long as they stay outside your home's walls.
Ants serve as nature's garbage men, helping natural matter decompose and aerating the soil. They are one of the most widespread species of insects in the world, found on every continent besides Antarctica and numbering more than 10,000 types. Ants vary greatly in size and coloring, but all species sport a pair of elbowed antennae, two pairs of mandibles, and bodies that are separated into three clearly defined regions-head, abdomen, and thorax.
Regardless of the type, an ant infestation in your home is a major problem. Let's look at the signs of ant infestation to watch for, the issues ants bring into your house, and what approach Oklahoma City pest control pros recommend when asked how to get rid of ants and how to keep ants away.
Easy-To-Spot Signs Of An Ant Infestation In Your Home
For a homeowner, spotting signs of an ant infestation is often difficult until the problem is in full swing and you're dealing with thousands of little invaders.
Watch for these signs of ants in your home:
- Tiny holes in wood left by carpenter ants
- Ant's nests and dirt piles left by ants excavating them
- Swarmers and shed swarmer wings
- Seeing the insects themselves
A few ants scurrying across your living room floor are likely scouts looking for a new food source. If you're seeing a couple of ants in your home, you can guarantee there are many times that amount somewhere in close vicinity.
How A Little Ant Can Become A Big Problem
Most ant species are more of a nuisance than a threat to our health or well-being.
A few notable exemptions in our area are carpenter ants, which, while not as voracious and destructive as termites, will tunnel through and damage your home's structure, and pharaoh ants, capable of spreading a number of contagious diseases, including salmonellosis, staphylococcus, and clostridium.
All ants have an uncanny knack for finding and contaminating the food stored in your home and will respond to a threat or an attack with a defense mechanism ranging from a bite, in the case of the acrobat ants, to a release of unpleasant odor as done by citronella and odorous house ants.
Six Easy Yet Effective Ant Prevention Tips For Around The House
Prevention is the most effective home pest control in Oklahoma City. Keeping the problem outside your walls guarantees to avoid the damage an infestation will cause. Start with:
- Keep food stored in sealed containers
- Resolve plumbing issues quickly
- Keep tree branches trimmed away from house walls
- Seal cracks and crevices in the walls and foundation
- Dispose of garbage regularly
- Clean up food spills and crumbs immediately
If, regardless of your preventative efforts, ants make their way inside your home, the key to effective ant control in your house is accurately identifying the type of ant you're dealing with. Once you do that, getting ant control services in Oklahoma City from a professional as soon as possible is important.
Call Us For All Your Ant Control Needs
At Brandley Pest Control, identifying the type and species of invading ants and executing a comprehensive ant control strategy is the key to a quick and damage-free resolution to your ant problem. We are a family-owned business serving residents of the great state of Oklahoma and believe in doing the job right the first time and building customer relationships that last for generations.
If you have an ant infestation, reach out to us today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Oklahoma City.