How To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Chesapeake Home For Good

Ants live in large colonies numbering in the thousands, sometimes even millions. This is why you rarely see a lone ant wandering through your home. They typically come in large groups when they invade, sending homeowners into panic mode.

Chesapeake is home to several ant species, including fire ants, carpenter ants, Argentine ants, and odorous house ants. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of local ants, the problems that they can cause, and the best options for quality ant control in Chesapeake.

How To Identify The Type Of Ant Infesting Your Chesapeake Home

There are more than 12,000 species of ant in the world. Ant species are very diverse, ranging in size, color, habits, and threat level. There are quite a few species of ant in Chesapeake that you may encounter. Here is a breakdown of the most common types of ant affecting property owners.

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants are the most common household ant in the United States. They earned their name from the foul, rotten odor they produce when crushed. These ants are fairly small at about ? of an inch long and are brownish-black in color.

Argentine Ants

Small and brown, Argentine ants live in colonies consisting of thousands of individual ants. They are known as trailing ants due to their habit of traveling in large groups while seeking food. First brought to the United States on ships from Argentina during the 1890s, Argentine ants have since become a problematic pest in American homes.

Red Imported Fire Ants

Fire ants are dark red and known for their painful stings. They are typically found outdoors in their mound nests and can be especially problematic for households with pets and small children, who may accidentally disturb a nest while playing outside.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are pale yellow with darker abdomens and are very small. They are one of the more hazardous species, as they are known to carry pathogens, including streptococcus and salmonellosis.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are aptly named for their habit of drilling through wooden structures, leaving damage that is often mistaken for the work of termites. They are fairly large at up to ? of an inch long and can be entirely black, red, brown, or a combination of black and red.

If you identify any ant species on your property, you should promptly address the issue by seeking professional ant control in Chesapeake.

The Problems Ants In Your Chesapeake Home Can Cause

If your home has ever had ants, you know that they are a serious nuisance. They seem to come from all directions, and it can be difficult to eliminate all of them. Plus, ants will return time and time again. While they are undoubtedly annoying, they can cause bigger problems without fast and effective ant control.

Ants are always on the hunt for food sources and often enter kitchens and pantries where they contaminate food. Some species, such as Pharaoh ants, even transmit diseases, putting you and your family at risk of illness. Other species, most notably fire ants, are aggressive and will sting humans if disturbed, causing painful welts and even allergic reactions.

Ants can harm property as well as people. For example, carpenter ants inflict damage on the wooden structures of your home as they construct their tunnels and nests. Ants are a threat to your health and property, but indoor and outdoor ant control can help protect you and your home from these invasive pests.

The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Chesapeake Home

Ants are annoying, potentially dangerous and destructive, and can be all but impossible to get rid of on your own. However, professional pest control can quickly and effectively remove all signs of ants from your property. For quality indoor and outdoor ant control in Chesapeake, look no further than Hawk Mosquito & Pest.

Whatever species of ant you are dealing with, the professionals at Hawk Mosquito & Pest will thoroughly eliminate them from your property. We also offer quarterly service to help keep your home free of ants and other pests all year long. For effective ant and pest solutions in the Chesapeake area, contact Hawk Mosquito & Pest today.

Useful Ant Prevention Tips For Chesapeake Homes

Our pest control professionals will provide you with the best ant control solutions, but we encourage all homeowners to take an active role in ant prevention. To avoid future ant infestations, follow these best practices for keeping ants away from your Chesapeake home:

• Inspect your home for any small cracks, crevices, or gaps and seal them tightly.
• Store garbage in trash cans with lids and dispose of it frequently.
• Decrease humidity and moisture issues in your home.
• Always store food in sealed containers and keep fresh fruit refrigerated.
• Remove food particles by cleaning counters and floors daily.
• Trim tree branches and shrubs around the exterior of your home.

These preventative measures will help make your home less susceptible to ants, but be sure to contact Hawk Mosquito & Pest at the first sign of ants for effective ant control.