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Keeping Dangerous Pharaoh Ants Out Of Elk Grove, CA Homes
August 13, 2021
People don’t usually equate ants to being dangerous. Although incredibly annoying, these pests seem harmless, for the most part. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Some species of ants are incredibly harmful to human health. One type of ant that is threatening people in Elk Grove is the Pharaoh ant. To help you better understand this invasive pest and keep it out of your home, here are some things to consider.
Why Pharaoh Ants Are Dangerous
Most ants are harmless. Pharaoh ants are one of the few exceptions. This invasive house pest does not just steal food and cause annoyances inside living areas. It also regularly crawls into trash cans and consumes food that is spoiled and covered with bacteria. After crawling over and consuming dirty things, Pharaoh ants then crawl through homes, spreading whatever disease-causing bacteria they picked up. Two diseases you might contract from these ants are salmonellosis and streptococcus.
How Pharaoh Ants Get Into Homes
Pharaoh ants live in large social colonies and build nests in the strangest of areas. Outside, in nature, these pests build homes in warm, well-hidden areas. To invade area residences, Pharaoh ants crawl through gaps, cracks, and other openings. They most often find these entry points around window/door frames, beneath unprotected doors, and through damage to the home’s foundations. Once inside, Pharaoh ants are likely to build nests wherever they can, including inside wall voids, cabinet voids, refrigerator insulation, electronics, piles of laundry, and curtain rods.
Things That Attract Pharaoh Ants
Like many area pests, Pharaoh ants enjoy living inside. That is, as long as the place provides them with their three most basic needs. What are a Pharaoh ant's basic needs? Food, water, and shelter. This pest finds shelter in any secluded areas it can find. It scavenges food off countertops, inside pantries, from trash cans, and anywhere messes occur. Finally, Pharaoh ants get water from inside wet sinks and bathtubs, leaky faucets and piping, and from areas of water build up in and around homes. If your property provides these pests with even a small amount of these resources, they will want to invade and create a more permanent living arrangement.
Strategies To Prevent Pharaoh Ants
To prevent Pharaoh ants, you have to address two things; factors that draw them in and entry points they use to get inside. To help you out with this, our experts have put together these handy prevention tips and tricks.
- Clear debris and clutter from around your property.
- Address water build-up in your yard.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
- Use a dehumidifier inside your home to keep moisture down.
- Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting covers.
- Clean up food messes and wipe up drink spills as they occur.
- Limit how many rooms you eat food into just one or two.
- Find and seal off gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun.
- Repair or replace damaged door sweeps, weatherstripping, and window/door screens.
What To Do When Pharaoh Ants Invade
If your home currently has a Pharaoh ant infestation, no prevention tips will get them to go away. What you need to give these pests the boot is high-quality pest control services. At Neighborly Pest Management, we use advanced treatments and industry-leading products and equipment to care for our community's pest control needs. If Pharaoh ants are overrunning your home, or you are looking for a long-term solution to keep these pests away, let us help you out. Call us today to schedule your Elk Grove home for a detailed pest inspection.
