There is no such thing as a lazy ant. From the moment these pests are born to the day they die, they serve their purpose, and they do it to the best of their ability. For most, this involves hunting for food and carrying it, no matter how large it is, back to the colony.
This seems like tiring work, but it is what ants are built to do. This is good for them, but often bad for homeowners because one of the most common places to find food is within a well-stocked household. If you regularly find these pests crawling around inside your living areas and are curious to know why, we have your answers today.
What Ants Live In Milford?
Milford is home to more than a few species of ants. Three of the most common are pavement ants, carpenter ants, and little black ants. To help you identify these pests in and around your Milford home, here are a few things you should know about each:
Pavement Ants
A pavement ant is dark brown to blackish and ⅛” long. These pests are most often found around paved areas such as driveways, sidewalks, and cement foundations. Pavement ants invade homes to scavenge for food and avoid inclement weather.
Carpenter Ants
A carpenter ant is red, black, or a combination of the two, ⅝” long, and has a large head and mandibles. Working together, these pests tunnel into wooden structures. This regularly causes damage to area properties, sometimes costing homeowners thousands of dollars.
Little Black Ants
A little black ant is dark brown to black and 1/16” long. This pest builds its nests both inside and around homes and commonly invades to scavenge for food and moisture. Colonies of little black ants have multiple queens and are difficult to eliminate using DIY elimination strategies.
How Ants Get Into Homes
One thing ants are great at is scouting out areas to find food, water, and shelter. This is how these pests find their way into homes. As ants crawl around the exterior of buildings they find cracks, gaps, and other openings that allow them a way to come indoors. Once inside, scouts look around for gatherable sources of food and water and then leave pheromone trails back to their colony for workers to follow back. This is where long lines of ants come from.
Prevention Tips For Ants
Now that you have a better understanding of why ants invade area homes, let’s talk about ways to keep them out of yours. To start, here are a few prevention tips our experts recommend you use:
- Use a caulking gun to seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Repair damage to your home’s window/door screens, door sweeps, and weatherstripping.
- Keep unscreened doors and windows closed as much as possible.
- Clean your home regularly.
- Eliminate moisture sources in and around your home.
- Fix leaky piping and fixtures.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors.
- Repair or replace wood that is water-damaged, rotting, or in decay.
A Better Solution To Invading Ants
One thing to keep in mind with DIY prevention is that it is never 100% effective. If you regularly find ants inside your home and want them to get out and stay out, here is what you have to do. Get the professionals at Big Blue Bug Solutions involved. Our team of dedicated technicians understands local ants and has the advanced tools and experience needed to effectively eliminate these pests in and around homes. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive pest control options in Milford and find one that best suits you and your home’s needs.