Waldorf Ant Treatment

How To Identify An Ant Infestation

Have you seen ants roaming around your Waldorf property or inside your home lately? If so, you most likely have an ant infestation occurring. If left untreated, ant problems can become unmanageable, so it is always best to be proactive the moment you see ants. Ants tend to congregate around where food is stored or near entry points in your home. If you are seeing one ant occasionally, it may be a good idea to start checking around your home to find the point of entry. Different ants can cause different problems, the most common ant species in Waldorf being Pavement, Sugar, Pharaoh and Fire Ants. While some will just get into food, others may cause damage to your property and plants.

Why You Might Have Ants

Ants are looking for shelter and food. Your home and property have both your own food waiting to be eaten inside and fresh vegetation and nectar outside. All homes and properties are the perfect space for ants to take up residence and present an ant problem to those living on the property.

Reasons To Treat Your Ant Problem Immediately

Not only can an ant problem be annoying, it can also cost you money. Between ants getting into your food and causing you to throw away products. Ant infestations, if left untreated, can cause ants to cause havoc to your property, such as a garden, or the infrastructure of your Waldorf home, depending on the species. Whether you see one ant or ten ants, it is best to call a professional to ensure that all entry points are blocked off from ant entry and that you can reclaim your Waldorf home and property from any ant problems.  

1) Why are ants in my kitchen? 

Ants are often found in kitchens. This is because kitchens have food. Ants are in your home because they are looking for food and water. Thus, your kitchen provides everything they need to survive.  You will most often notice ants in the areas of your kitchen where there is easy access to food and crumbs. For instance, ants are usually found on the kitchen counter, in your cabinets, or underneath the dishwasher. If you have a trashcan in your kitchen, that will also be a popular area for ants to congregate. 

2) How do I know what type of ant is in my home? 

There are thousands of ant species in the world. Not all of them are common in Waldorf, MD, and even less will be likely to enter your home. The most likely ant invaders include Acrobat ants, Carpenter ants, Odorous house ants, and Pharaoh ants.  Each variety of ant will have different physical characteristics and habits, which make them easy to tell apart. Acrobat ants are either brown or black and they have a heart-shaped abdomen. These ants will most likely be found on wires and utility lines. Carpenter ants are one of the most common ant species. They are large, black, and are found in decaying wood. Odorous house ants emit a very foul smell when they are crushed. Finally, Pharaoh ants are the small, yellow-brown ants that enter your home in large groups. 

3) Where else might ants be hiding? 

Ants are not just found in your kitchen. Because they are looking for food and water, ants can be found anywhere these necessities are located. That means you could see ants in pantries, bathrooms, basements, attics, and more.  While they will eat anything, ants are most attracted to sweet-smelling items. That is why you will see ants on candy, melons, and other sweet food first. This distinguishes them from rodents and other pests, who are less picky about their meals.  Carpenter ants are the outlier. They eat the same food as other types of ants, but they are attracted to decaying and wet wood. Unlike termites, Carpenter ants use this wood as shelter, not food. But, the sheer number of Carpenter ant colonies that can invade a home can make them especially hard to remove. 

4) What are the signs of an ant infestation? 

The number one sign of an ant infestation is actually seeing ants in your Waldorf home. Ants are a lot easier to spot than other pests. Often, because they leave a pheromone trail for other ants to follow, they will be spotted in a single-file line. This works in your favor because you can find where they are coming from and going to. 

5) How do I get rid of ants? 

Sometimes ant traps and sprays will work to solve your ant problem. You will also, of course, want to clean up any food that could attract ants. The best way to ensure the complete removal of ants, though, is to contact Barefoot Pest Control.  We are your ant extermination experts. With our prompt service and 100% guaranteed results, you can rest assured that your ant problem will be solved in no time at all. Contact Barefoot Pest Control today to learn about our ant control methods and how they may work for you.