It’s springtime. The sun’s out, bringing in warmth and breathing in new life and energy to all living creatures, including ants.
As the cold weather dissipates, ants start to crawl out of their nest to find food to eat and hoard until the next season arrives.
They are ready to march into your homes in search of food, invading your house to take advantage of opportunities to snap up your crumbs or unprotected dishes.
They are unwelcome visitors as they can contaminate your food, bite you when they feel threatened, and cause damage in your house.
If you are starting to have ant problems, here are some tips to prevent ants from invading your home this spring.
Identify what kind of ants they are
You will first need to identify what kind of invader you have on your hands. There are different kinds of ants with different nesting sites, food preferences, the potential for damage, and other habits. They also require different methods of control.
Here are some of the different kinds of ants common in the US:
- Odorous house ants — they have a strong, rotten coconut-like smell when crushed, and they are attracted to sweets. They can be usually found in exposed soil and wall cracks.
- Carpenter ants — Since they tunnel into softwood to build their nests, they can cause significant damage to your house.
- Red imported fire ants — Common in southern states, they build their nest in landscape areas or near structural foundations. Their bites are painful and may cause severe allergic reactions.
- Argentine ants — Found mostly in southeastern parts of the US and in California, these ants give off a musty odor when squished. They eat almost anything, like sweets, meats, oils, etc.
- Raspberry crazy ants — These ants eat plants, insects, and small animals. They also like to bite humans.
Keep your house clean
Keeping your home clean will keep ants away from your house, at the least. Make sure you sweep up food crumbs, don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, and throw out the garbage as these can be food sources of ants.
Secure your pet’s essentials
If you have a pet, you should spray vinegar mixed with water around bowls of pet food to keep ants away. Your pet’s food should also be kept in sealed containers, preventing ants from feasting on them.
Find the nest
Hunt down the nest and get rid of it. Although, this may require some detective work. They usually nest in damp areas, so find areas in your home that water damage.
Use insecticides
Once you find the ants’ nest, spray it with an insecticide that contains bifenthrin, permethrin, or deltamethrin. Also spray insecticides in entry points such as doors, windows, etc., and do this every spring to prevent them from re-entering your home.
But sometimes, you need professional help in getting rid of ants in your house. They can be expensive but they know what to look for, and they will make sure to keep ants out of your home.
Related article:
In the Sacramento Area, you can call Rocklin Pest Control. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured residential pest control service offering eco-friendly solutions to all your pest-related problems. We have a thorough treatment process to eradicate your problems and keep you safe.