Step 1: Know Your Enemy — Ants Commonly Found In Eustis Homes
Knowing your enemy is an essential first step in defending against them. Ant species typically found in Eustis, FL, include bigheaded ants, Caribbean crazy ants, rover ants, ghost ants, white-footed ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants.
Most of the ants listed above don’t pose any significant threat to your or your home and are primarily a nuisance. However, carpenter ants and fire ants are dangerous. Carpenter ants can destroy your home by burrowing into wooden structures and gnawing through, completely ruining the integrity of the structure. Fire ants have nasty stingers and strong mandibles allowing them to grab on and sting you repeatedly if you accidentally disturb their nest. They cause nasty red welts that can be painful for hours after being stung. Stings can also cause life-threatening anaphylaxis in allergic people.
Even though most other ants found in the area aren't dangerous, none of them are welcome in your home.
Step 2: Make Your Home Less Enticing
All ants make their way into your home after the same thing: sustenance. The best way to keep ants out is to eliminate things that attract them in the first place. A great place to start is a deep clean of your home, focusing heavily on food sources in the kitchen. Wiping out cupboards and under heavy appliances and keeping all food stored in airtight containers will eliminate food access for the ants. Keeping your floors and counters crumb-free and cleaning spills up as soon as they happen will help to keep foraging pests out of your home.
Step 3: Eliminate Entry Points
Eliminating entry points is the best way to keep ants out of your home. Take some time to do a quick inspection of the exterior of your home to identify any potential entry points. Some of the most common entry points include:
- Cracks or holes in your foundation
- Gaps around pipes and utility wires
- Holes in window and door screens
- Underneath doors
Once you have identified entry points in your home, then you can get to work sealing them up. Silicone caulk works well for cracks and holes in the foundation and sealing areas around pipes and utility wires. Repair any damaged screens and install door sweeps under exterior doors to keep ants from sneaking in behind you.
Step 4: Ask Pest Ref Services For Help
The best way to keep ants and other pests out of your home is with a little help from the professionals at Pest Ref Services. Our ant control treatments are tailored to treat your unique ant problems because not all ant problems are the same. Our experience and expertise allow us to remedy the problem correctly the first time, and to prevent it from coming back. Contact Pest Ref Services at the first sign of an ant infestation.
For more information or to schedule home pest control services, contact Pest Ref Services today.