What You Need To Know To Keep Ants Off Of Your Beaumont Property

Image
house with termites

It’s amazing how fast our brains kick into gear when there is perceived danger nearby. One great example of this is when you are outside and feel a tickle on your leg. The first reaction most people have is to jerk or flail until the feeling is gone. Why is this? Because we instinctively know that tickling probably means a bug has landed on us. One of the most common culprits for leg tickling is ants. Unfortunately, this is not the only problem these tiny yard dwellers pose. To help keep ants off your Beaumont property, here are a few things you need to know. Common

Ant Species in Beaumont

There are over 12,000 ants around the globe and roughly 1,000 that live here in the United States. Of these 1,000, about nine are known for causing trouble around homes here in Beaumont. Some of the most notable in our area are crazy ants, fire ants, pharaoh ants, acrobat ants, odorous house ants, and carpenter ants. Although all ants are social creatures that typically live in large colonies, underground, not all ants cause the same problems. Where odorous house ants are more of a nuisance, only causing trouble with their foul odor, carpenter ants can literally destroy your home. Then there are some species of ants such as pharaoh ants, that can carry and spread dangerous diseases.

Are Ants Dangerous?

Ant problems are always worse than they seem. While ants may be small, they usually travel in large numbers, so an ant infestation can be frustrating, overwhelming, and dangerous. Many people like to say they’re just a common nuisance, but sharing this line of thinking can land you in a bad spot quickly.

Ants Can Contaminate Food

Take black ants for example. These small, invasive pests can create a huge problem on your property by invading your stored food areas. Even though ants like these don’t necessarily cause direct harm to humans or destroy your property, they can bring contaminants and spread them throughout your stored foods and meal-preparation areas.

Some Ants Destroy Property

On top of these “nuisance ants” (that are still quite problematic), you may have to deal with problem ants: the dangerous and the destructive. Many people wouldn’t consider ants as a danger to their homes, but carpenter ants will create nests within the wooden portions of your home’s foundation and do serious damage, over time. There are also species like acrobat ants that enjoy setting up shop within electrical wiring and even your electronics themselves, ruining anything they invade with their large infestations.

Some Are Hazardous to Your Health

Then, of course, there are the ants that are hazardous to your health. Fire ants and harvester ants typically remain outdoors, but their painful stings can turn fun in the yard into a dangerous health situation. Multiple stings from fire ants, harvester ants, and home-invading pharaoh ants have been known to lead to anaphylactic shock in some cases.

How Difficult Is It To Eliminate Ants?

All ants are different, which is part of the reason they can be so difficult to eliminate. To effectively deal with ants, you have to first know what species they are. Then you have to know what products to buy in order to effectively handle the problem. Finally, you have to know how much product to apply and what method to use in order to handle the specific type of ants in your home. All in all, combining methods and products can be a huge ordeal that leaves many homeowners wishing they never attempted to deal with ants on their own in the first place.

Some Ways To Keep Ants Out

If you want to avoid the danger or destruction that some ants will bring onto your property, then prevention needs to be a top priority. Since most ants are nearly impossible to keep out, the best prevention methods you can do on your own all revolve around limiting ant attraction to your property with the following practices:

  • Use a caulking gun or some liquid cement to seal up gaps in your home’s exterior foundation and around window and door frames.
  • Make sure all of your window and door screens are in good condition.
  • If you haven’t already done so, install door sweeps under all exterior doors of your home.
  • Address moisture issues in and around your home.
  • Repair or replace structural wood around your home that has been negatively affected by water damage, rot, or decay.
  • Keep your home clean by picking up messes as they happen and limiting the number of rooms you eat meals in.
  • Make sure all of your trashcans have tight-fitting lids.
  • Store leftover foods and pet foods inside airtight containers.

A Better Way To Get Rid of Ants

At the end of the day, finding and sealing off every entry point ants could use to get into your home is a difficult task. If you are looking for the most reliable and effective solution to getting and keeping all different types of ants out of your home, we have options for you here at Bill Clark Pest Control. Our team of highly trained pest technicians can put in place long-lasting solutions designed to keep ants (and a large number of other pests) from entering into and causing trouble inside your Beaumont home. Contact our team today to find out more about how we treat for ants or to schedule your home for a treatment.

Get a Free Estimate

Name
Contact Info
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to the privacy policy.
Validation
CAPTCHA
Submission