There’s no denying that this frigid winter has been a season to remember for southern Ontarians. With record-breaking lows and extreme weather warnings in our city, spring seems like a laughable illusion. But we at Action Pest Control know that spring is just around the corner and that means… ants. If you need help getting rid of ants, contact us for an immediate response.
Ants are more than just a pest, they can cause some serious structural damage to your home! Here’s what you need to know to keep your home ant-free this spring:
Fast facts:
- The most common type of ant is the carpenter ant. Carpenter ants make their home by burrowing into the wooden structures in your home. In the spring, these ants are most active in the dark. The nest of this species is a series of interconnecting cavities and can host colonies of up to 500,000 ants.
- Pharaoh ants are the ants of the kitchen. They cannot survive the harshness of winter, but make a reappearance in the spring. With a distinct preference for warmth and craving for meat and grease, these ants are known to burrow in hard-to-reach places near your kitchen.
- Ants can infest your house through the tiniest cracks and miniscule openings. They emit a chemical trail of pheromones behind them for other ants to follow.
- Other problematic ants you may encounter include the thief ant, pavement ant, acrobat ant, and odorous house ant.
Tips:
- Keep it Clean. Ants are attracted to water and sweet or greasy foods. Keep these foods covered and stored tightly. Promptly tidy-up spills when entertaining and make sure to rinse out containers before disposing of them.
- Close the Cracks. Sealing cracks and any openings around the doors and windows of your home will help keep the party in and ants out.
- Be Proactive. If you see an ant, observe it. Make note of the surface, location, and where it might be travelling.
Don’t Do-It-Yourself. Getting rid of ants can be very difficult. Many store-bought remedies and ant traps only kill the ants you see. If ants or any other pesky visitors invade your home, get a pest service expert to penetrate the problem at the source.