They may be small, but an ant infestation can be a problem for property owners in more ways than one. They can damage property, crawl through food, and bite humans and animals among many other reasons. Getting rid of ants on your own can be a straightforward task, but when they keep coming back and are causing more damage, it’s best if you escalate things and let the professionals do the job. Given below is a list of choices one can choose from to help get rid of ants.
Identify the main source of the ants
Whenever you spot a colony of ants in your property, know that they’re always there for a reason. Whether it’s because their queen decided to build a nest in the area, are escaping from predators and the natural elements, and are simply scouring for food supplies, ants will always appear with a purpose. If your home provides them with a solution to any of those problems, then it’s highly likely that they’ll pay your home a visit to get what their colony needs. The only solution to this problem is to find out whats attracting them. This is commonly a sweet snack or sugar left open, or they’re simply passing through to get away from the natural forces outside or to get to their nest quicker.
Determine the type of ant you’re dealing with
Like any other species, ants vary in different types, displaying different characteristics and having varying preferences when it comes to food and shelter. Once you’re made aware of which species they belong to, you’ll have a good idea of what they’re there for, what attracted them in the first place, as well as the best solution to get rid of them.
Store food properly to get rid of ants
Among the main things that attract ants is food, especially the sugary types. To help avoid this from happening, you need to maintain the proper storage of food as well as your cleaning habits when it comes to food. Simple things like wiping down surfaces and vacuuming floors can eliminate the small crumbs and spills that can attract ants. It’s also a good move to invest in airtight containers to store sugary foods. With more tidying up and proper food storage, your home should look less appealing to ants.
Keep your property clean and sanitised
It’s not just your tabletops and benches that need proper cleaning and wiping down. Places like your kitchen sink, beds, dressers (as some people have a habit of eating in bed or near it), and other areas where food might be left out in the open need to be cleaned thoroughly to avoid attracting unwanted pests like ants. Deep clean the smooth surfaces of your property with water, soap, and any sprays that can eliminate any sweet, ant-attracting scents.
Have routine an infestation inspection
The key to get rid of ants and ant colonies is to have a thorough routine inspection. A licensed pest control professional will handle your ant problems and can create long-term solutions that can resolve any issues of returning ant colonies. Not only will they come and inspect the problem, they’ll establish ant-repellent techniques such as sealing parts of the property and adding insect growth regulators to help limit their colonies.
Exterminating ant colonies can be very risky and difficult to accomplish when they’re repetitive and you have no idea what you’re dealing with. And you can never tell if you’ve eliminated the problem effectively using store-bought products. Ensure safe and long-term pest control by hiring experienced professionals. Get in touch with Picton Pest Control today!