No matter where you live in the United States, you have probably encountered ants in your home. There are almost 12,000 ant species roaming nearly every landmass on earth which means that there are a few places ants have not been.
Like many insects, ants are not picky eaters. Some ants are especially attracted to greasy and sugary foods and most rely heavily on plants and animals for food.
Ants can travel great distances foraging for the colony, making many foods in your home ripe for the taking. Often, ants enter homes searching for food, exploiting tiny cracks around pipes, doors, and windows even though they normally nest outdoors.
Ants perform complex social behaviors and are widely studied for their intriguing communication methods. An example would be ants releasing chemicals called pheromones once they find food which will help fellow ants locate the feast.
Ants also use pheromones for self-defense. Fire ants are reddish-brown species named for their fiery sting and they emit alarm pheromones which signal nest mates to attack and defend their colony by delivering repeated stings to other wildlife such as intruding insects and ground-nesting birds.
On humans, fire ant stings typically cause small blisters or pustules, which itch and burn and are prone to infection. Severe reactions can include breathing difficulty, swelling, aggravated skin disorders and sometimes death.
Aside from fire ants, other ants can also disrupt both health and home. For example, pharaoh ants can spread disease and contaminate food. Causing structural damage to your home are the carpenter ants because they tunnel land and nest in wood.
To keep ants outdoors, experts say that the following tips can be helpful.
Spilled food and drinks should be quickly cleaned up.
Drink cans should be rinsed before recycling.
Make sure food is stored in tightly sealed containers.
Don’t forget to pick up your pet’s food at night. You shouldn’t feed your pet outdoors.
Identifying ant species is the first step in dealing with infestations, and homeowners should trust an experienced pest control professional for this difficult but critical process. Treatment strategies will be customized by a licensed company in order to fit your specific ant problem.
Getting affordable motorcycle Insurance Texas has never been easier.
Mail this post