How To Identify And Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation In Your Roseville Home

If there's one pest that belongs outside and away from your home, it's ants. So what are they doing in your Roseville kitchen? Unfortunately, ants can be a big nuisance in Roseville, but there are ways to get rid of them. 

Here's what Roseville homeowners should know about identifying the type of ant in their home, what problems ants can cause, how to get rid of ants, and how to protect your home with pest control in Roseville. 

How To Identify The Type Of Ant Infesting Your Home

While they may look the same at first glance, ants can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. For Roseville homeowners, you're most likely to encounter these species:

• Odorous House Ants: Odorous house ants are named for the rotten coconut-like odor they produce when they're. These ants have a penchant for sweet foods, and they're a common occurrence in Roseville homes. In fact, odorous house ants tend to be one of the most common home invaders. They don't have a problem building their colonies inside your Roseville home, and if they're left unchecked, an odorous house ant problem can spiral out of control.
• Argentine Ants: Argentine ants have shiny, dark brown or black bodies and live in massive colonies within wall voids or other spaces in your home. One way to distinguish Argentine ants from other types of ants is by the way they march. Argentine ants will create long, single-file lines from their colony to a food source. Don't be surprised if you see them crawling across your counters or up your walls to get a taste of the food they've found.
• Pavement Ants: While pavement ants often build their nests in cracks in sidewalks or cement, they can also be problematic in homes with stone foundations or dirt basements. Even though pavement ants will nest outside, that doesn't mean they won't come inside for food. A pavement ant colony may establish itself in your driveway or somewhere near your home and enter your house whenever they're looking for food.
• Pharaoh Ants: Pharaoh ants aren't merely a nuisance; they can also spread bacteria to people. You can recognize this species by its light brown to yellow coloring. They're one of the easiest ants to recognize on sight. While pharaoh ants can infest homes from time to time, they have a bad reputation for hanging around medical facilities and spreading bacteria.
• Red Imported Fire Ants: Fire ants may construct their flat, mound-like nests on your property and will aggressively sting anybody who gets too close. If you stumble upon a mound by accident, you may be in for a painful time. Fire ants like to attack in swarms, so it's likely you won't just get stung by one – but several members of their colony.

Even if most of these ants are more of a nuisance than a direct threat, that doesn't mean they're welcome in Roseville homes. 

The Problems An Ant Infestation Can Create In Your Home

They may be small pests, but that doesn't mean ants can't cause big problems in Roseville homes, including:

• Food contamination: Most ants are seeking food, which means they'll crawl into cupboards and pantries. If they have access, ants contaminate almost any food source, including leftovers or dirty dishes. This is especially true for ants like odorous house ants, Argentine ants, and even pavement ants.
• Nuisance: Ants are both annoying and tough to eliminate. You can use traps or sprays to deter them, but ants aren't afraid to relocate or just bide their time until they find another food source in your home.
• Bacteria: Not all ants carry bacteria, but some species, like the pharaoh ant, can carry dangerous bacteria like staphylococcus or salmonella. Pharaoh ants have caused problems in medical facilities by crawling into patient wounds and IVs. This may not be a concern for most homes in Roseville, but you still don't want these bacteria-ridden ants around.
• Property damage: Some ants, like carpenter ants, can cause structural damage when they chew through and nest in wood. Carpenter ants won't eat through your home in a day or even in a month, but if the infestation goes unchecked for long enough, you could begin to notice the damage.

Even if they don't cause damage or spread bacteria, all ants can be a nuisance that's difficult to eliminate. All ants are nuisances and won't go away on their own. Even if you stop leaving food or leftovers out for them to find, ants will just bide their time until they find a new food source. 

They're also pretty crafty at finding food. You may think your counters are clear of food, but ants can still feast on even the tiniest of crumbs. 

The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Ants In Your House

While there are things you can do to prevent ants, the best form of fire ant control and ant pest control near you comes from working with Neighborly Pest Management. If you've already got ants in your Roseville home, you'll need help to get these sneaky creatures out – like help from those of us at Neighborly Pest Management. 

So, if you've got an ant problem or have more questions about how to keep ants away, don't wait to call us. Contact us at Neighborly Pest Management today for more advice and assistance. 

Five Easy Tips To Prevent Future Ant Infestations In Your Home

Oftentimes, if you're finding ants around your Roseville home, there's a reason for it. Like most pests, ants are drawn to food and water, so reducing these factors can also mitigate the likelihood of an ant infestation.

1. Do A Deep Clean Of Your Home: If you're unsure of what's attracting ants to your home, the best thing to do is to thoroughly clean your house. This means vacuuming and sweeping rooms where you may have eaten food and wiping off countertops and tables. You also don't want to forget those "hard-to-reach" places where food scraps may have fallen, such as under appliances or in areas where you've stored food. These areas may not get cleaned as often, but if there's any food residue, they could be attracting ants. Remember, it doesn't take much to make a meal for an ant or even an ant colony. Ants are great at sniffing out food scraps and crumbs, so a deep clean can help prevent this. Speaking of what they like to eat, ants are also drawn to moisture. Leaky pipes, faucets, and other sources of moisture can attract ants just as much as a tasty meal would. If you do have moisture issues around your Roseville home, you'll want to address and fix them as soon as possible.
2. Practice Proper Food And Trash Storage: Along with regular deep cleaning of your home, you'll want to practice sanitary food storage too. This includes storing leftovers in sealed containers, regularly emptying both indoor and outdoor trash cans, and keeping your garbage bins tightly closed to avoid attracting ants. Make sure your trash bags don't have holes or leaks in them. Ants aren't afraid to dig through the trash for their dinner, but a tight lid and a tear-proof bag will do the trick.
3. Wipe Up Spills And Keep Up With Dirty Dishes: If you spill a drink or leave dirty dishes in the sink, this could attract ants. Clean up spills and wash dishes as soon as you can to reduce food sources for ants.
4. Identify And Seal Entry-Points: Ants only need tiny cracks and gaps to access your home. Be sure to inspect the foundation and baseboards of your home for tiny holes and crevices and seal off any openings with caulk.
5. Replace Window And Door Screens: Ripped window and door screens can also serve as entrances for ants, so be sure to repair or replace any broken screens you find. Even the narrow gaps under doors can become an access point for ants, but weatherstripping or using door sweeps are easy ways to take care of this.

Even with the tips above, the best form of ant control in Roseville is working with the pros at Neighborly Pest Management.