February 14, 2022 - Ants
Here in Florida, we benefit from a warm, comfortable climate all year long. However, with these favorable temperatures comes year-round ant problems. In Florida, the most common ants you’ll find in the region include Argentine ants, Pharaoh ants, pavement ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, and odorous house ants.
All of these critters, including pavement ants, won’t mind making your home their home, too – and once they’ve gotten inside, they can be tricky to eliminate. Here’s what you need to know about getting rid of ants in your Eustis home or property.
Why Are Ant Infestations Hard To Control?
At first glance, ants may seem like harmless pests, but they can cause some serious damage. Carpenter ants, who love to make their colonies in wood, can cause structural damage, while Pharaoh ants may carry diseases, and fire ants aren’t afraid to attack.
While some homeowners may be tempted to use OTC ant sprays or traps to get rid of an infestation, these tricks rarely do the job effectively. A colony of ants can hold hundreds of thousands of individuals. Most ant traps aren’t able to get rid of the entire colony, and some OTC sprays may use harmful fumes or chemicals.
Finding the location of the colony can be another barrier. Some colonies may have a home base outside hidden under a tree stump or woodpile, but if they find your home (and food) to their liking, they may expand that home base to a damp area of your home. This includes places that may be under your floor or behind your walls, or in other crevices in your basement, kitchen, or bathroom.
Fire ants tend to favor electrical equipment, while carpenter ants make their nest inside structural wood.
How to Prevent Future Ant Infestations In Eustis
Even with professional ant control services, ant infestations can recur, but there are a few steps you can take to prevent them in the future:
- Don’t leave leftover food in the open around your home or outside, including uneaten pet food.
- Keep your food in airtight containers, preferably in the refrigerator, and never on the counter.
- Make sure you keep a lid on your trash cans, compost bins, and recycling bins.
- Regularly sweep up crumbs or food debris that may have fallen on your carpet or floor.
- Get rid of unnecessary moisture that may build up in your gutters or from leaky pipes.
- Replace water-damaged wood on your property.
- Don’t leave cracks or crevices unrepaired that ants could use to gain access to your home.
- Get rid of wood and brush piles, tree stumps, or leaf piles on your property that ants could use to build a nest.
While these preventative tips may not be able to completely prevent an infestation from happening, if you pair them with Pest Ref Services’s continued assistance, your Eustis home will be ant-free!
Ant Control With Pest Ref Services
Once you see a couple of ants, you’re likely to find even more in your home as time goes on. The size of an ant colony will only grow the longer you leave it untreated, so it’s a good idea to contact a home pest control professional like Pest Ref Services.
Our ant control process begins with figuring out what you’ve been seeing and customizing our ant treatment to fit your home’s specific needs. From there, we’ll begin treatment, which usually starts with laying out ant traps as well as a granule product. We will also find the source (or sources) of the infestation.
Our goal is not only to eliminate the ants inside of your home but also to gain access to the anthill so that we can prevent more from making their way inside. We often apply granule products that help get rid of the entire colony rather than just hot spots or problem areas in your home.
Depending on the severity of the problem, you can always schedule follow-up visits if they’re needed.
If you suspect that you may have an ant infestation in your Eustis home, reach out to us today to learn more about our year-round ant control options!
Just had Benjamin come out and do an initial pest service on our home. I highly recommend his business. He was on time, EXTREMELY thorough with every inch of our home and was professional and so affordable. I’m so glad I ran into him on facebook. If you’re looking to switch services, now is the time!
