Ants may not be much of an issue when you encounter them on the sidewalk, but if you’re finding them in your home, that’s a big problem. For Chandler residents, there are quite a few ant species that may try to invade your property, such as:
Harvester ants: As their name suggests, harvester ants like to “harvest” or collect seeds as their primary source of food. While they may spend more time around your garden than in your home, these ants aren’t afraid to sting if they think you’ve gotten too close to their nest.
Argentine ants: With brown coloring, Argentine ants emit a musty odor when they’re crushed. They reproduce more quickly than other species.
Odorous house ants: The name for this ant species comes from the rotten coconut-like odor that they emit when they’re killed. Odorous house ants love sweets and are especially fond of building their nests in wall voids near moisture sources.
Fire ants: Fire ants prefer to build their large, mound-like nests outside, and they’re known to be aggressive. If you get too close to their nest, these ants can cause painful and repeated stings.
Pavement ants: Pavement ants like to build nests under cracks of pavement and concrete, and they’re not picky about what kind of food they eat.
Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants can be especially dangerous because they’ll chew through wood to create their nests, which can cause significant structural damage to homes and buildings.
While most ant species you’ll encounter in your home are more likely to be a nuisance than dangerous, that doesn’t mean you want them there. Here’s what Chandler homeowners should know about how and why ants get inside, how to prevent them, and what to do if you’re currently dealing with an ant problem.
How And Why Do Ants Come Inside Chandler Homes?
Most of the time, ants that wander into your Phoenix home don’t do it by accident. They’ve usually been lured in by something and are coming to check it out. Like most pests, ants are attracted to the same two things: food and water. If you’re leaving food out or you’ve got moisture issues, like leaky faucets and drains, you’ve got a much bigger risk of dealing with ants. It doesn’t help that these critters need hardly any space at all to get inside. As tiny as they are, ants will use the smallest cracks and crevices in your walls and foundation to gain access to your home. Ripped and torn window and door screens can be another potential entry-point.
How To Prevent Ants In Chandler, AZ
As sneaky as they may be at gaining access to your home, there are steps you can take to prevent ants, such as:
Get rid of their access points: Use a sealant like caulk to get rid of tiny cracks and gaps around your house’s foundation and exterior walls. You can also use weatherstripping and door sweeps to eliminate tiny gaps around windows and doors.
Don’t leave food and trash sitting out: Since food scraps may lure ants in, it’s important to keep any food in airtight containers and stored in your fridge, cabinet, or freezer.
Check for moisture issues: Moisture issues can be another possible attraction, but you may not always know you’ve got a problem. It’s a good idea to regularly check for leaky faucets, drains, or even flooded gutters.
Wash dirty dishes and regularly clean home surfaces: Even dirty dishes or crumbs on countertops can draw ants in, so you don’t want to leave these items sitting out overnight.
The Most Effective Form Of Ant Control In Chandler, AZ
While the preventative measures above are a great way to help keep ants away, they aren’t always enough – especially if you’ve got an existing ant problem. Whether you’re dealing with a nuisance ant, like odorous house ants, or a more dangerous species, like the carpenter ant, the most effective form of ant control is a professional one – like those of us at Green Home Pest Control.
With years of experience under our belts and a trustworthy reputation, we can make your Chandler home pest and ant-free. If you think you’ve got an ant problem, there’s no reason to let the infestation get worse. Contact us at Green Home Pest Control today for more information about our ant control services.