Common ant infestation is common in Elk Grove homes. While these pests are seemingly small, they are not all as harmless as presumed. They can cause serious health risks and significant property damage.
Homeowners should look out for the pest populations in their homes and take proactive measures to eliminate them. They build colonies underground where they store food and breed. Start looking for ant control solutions if you hear rustling in your walls and see mounds of dirt in your house. You likely have an infestation and must employ ant pest control measures to reduce their populations. The Elk Grove pest control experts at Pro Active Pest Control can help eliminate ants in your home, keeping you and your family healthy and safe.
Characteristics Of Common Ants
Common ants have distinguishable characteristics from other types of insects. They are unique creatures that communicate efficiently, but even so, they are still unwanted guests indoors. Ants have six legs and large heads with compound eyes. They have a narrow constriction separating the abdomen and thorax and have an exoskeleton covering their bodies.
The length of a common ant ranges from about 1/10 of an inch to one inch, and most are brown, red, or black. They have structured communities and can build their colonies and nests underground, on walls or wood. Their diet includes sugar, carbohydrates, other insects, seeds, fungus, and even their eggs.
All The Issues an Ant Infestation Can Create In Your Home
Most owners consider ants infestation a nuisance, but it is also a health and safety hazard. Here are problems ants can cause in your home:
- Health issues: Common ants contaminate food with E. coli and salmonella, causing food poisoning. In addition, when ants bite humans, they punch into the skin with their mandibles injecting pets and people with formic acid. Some people are allergic to formic acid and could experience an allergic reaction from an ant bite.
- Structural damage: Ants can build colonies underground in the foundation of your home, compromising your home’s structural integrity. They also burrow into wood to create nests, damaging and weakening it. Finding professionals in ant control in Elk Grove can eliminate an infestation preventing further damage to your structure.
- Fire hazards: Common ants are fire hazards as they chew through electrical wires causing short circuits. They also build nests around electrical outlets. A large population of ants electrocuted increases the risk of a fire.
Ants are also food sources for other pests like spiders, and their invasion can attract other problems into your home. While they are small creatures, they considerably impact your health and safety. If you find yourself with an infestation, it's time to call for professional indoor or outdoor ant control.
Why Do-It-Yourself Ant Control Usually Fails
The best way to deal with an ant infestation is to manage the population before it grows. While there are several DIY methods you may consider using, involve professionals for the most effective ant control.
Home remedies are ineffective because they are short-lived. They work to some extent, but don’t give you total control over the situation. Common ants may respond differently to your homemade remedies, and it takes the intervention of an expert to exterminate them as they know the best solutions for various species. With homemade solutions, you can exterminate the pests you see, but miss the ones hiding in their colonies.
Call The Professionals at the First Sign of Ants In Your House
If you notice an ant invasion, call professionals for ant control in your house in Elk Grove. Trained pest control experts understand how to deliver ant control treatments to homeowners. Pro Active Pest Control employs effective solutions to exterminate pests and can recommend ant prevention tips to keep them away from your home for good.