The Key To Total Ant Control For Your Roseville Home

Unless every nook and cranny of your home is sealed, you're bound to have ants at some point. Seeing a few ants here and there is nothing to be too alarmed about, but it should put you on alert to be observant of seeing more. Why? Because where there's one ant, there's more in hiding.

Ants are social creatures that can have colonies with millions of members. For such seemingly simple insects, their behavior is surprisingly methodical and coordinated as they cooperate in gathering food and caring for the young. Once these invasive, tiny pests make their way inside your Roseville home, they can be challenging to eliminate if you don't get to the source of what's attracting them.

The good news here is that although ants can be hard to eliminate, it's nothing that Neighborly Pest Management can't handle.

Since 1978 we have provided Roseville and the surrounding areas with quality pest control and prevention services. When you discover you have an ant problem on your hands, don't hesitate to call your local Roseville pest control experts, Neighborly Pest Management.

Types Of Ants That Commonly Invade Roseville Homes

If you're like most people, you probably think if you've seen one ant, you've seen them all, right? Typically, in your home, you'll see tiny black ants crawling around, and they all look the same. As a homeowner, you're not expected to grab your magnifying glass to observe these pests thoroughly. However, there are several different species of ants, despite them looking the same because of their small size.

Identifying the types of ants correctly that you're finding around your Roseville home will significantly prevent them from returning. Look at the most common ants you'll find invading your Roseville home.

• Odorous house ants: These ants get their name from the smell they give off when crushed – it smells like rotten coconut. These ants are prevalent in Roseville homes and prefer sweet foods. They can grow to be 1/8 inch long and have colorations ranging from dark brown to black. An infestation of smelly house ants can get out of hand if ignored for too long.
• Carpenter ants: Carpenter ants are quite large and typically either solid black, brown, or red, or both black and red. These ants have a unique habit of tunneling into the wood to create nests. This can be bad news for the wooden structures in your home, causing damage over time.
• Argentine ants: Argentine ants have large colonies in wall voids or other areas of your home. They have shiny, dark brown or black bodies. The way they march can help you tell them apart from other ant species. Long lines of Argentine ants will form as they travel from their colony to a food source. You shouldn't be shocked if you see them climbing your walls or crawling across your counters to get a taste of the food they've found.
• Pharaoh ants: These ants can transmit bacteria to humans, making them more than just a nuisance. This species is identified by its light brown to yellow coloring – one of the simplest ants to identify at first glance. Pharaoh ants occasionally invade homes, but they are infamous for congregating in hospitals and spreading bacteria to patients.
• Pavement ants: Pavement ants can be a problem in homes with stone foundations or dirt basements, though they typically construct their nests in cracks in cement or sidewalks. Pavement ants may build their nests outside, but that doesn't mean they won't come inside in search of food. If a pavement ant colony becomes established in your driveway or nearby, they may come inside your home whenever they need food.

As you can see, there are no "one-size-fits-all" ant species. Each type of ant is unique, with its different habits and behaviors. While finding a few ants in your home is not uncommon in the Roseville area, it's an issue that could turn into a severe problem sooner than later if it's not handled promptly. Contact Neighborly Pest Management to rid your home of such troublesome pests.

Why You Don't Want Ants Crawling Around Your Home

A pest infestation of any type is a nightmare for all Roseville residents, but ants are a particularly frustrating nuisance. Ants will enter your home looking for food, take it back to their nest, return to your home, and repeat the process over and over again. This is one of the things that makes ants so incredibly annoying. Because of this, it is exceptionally challenging to stop an ant invasion once it has already begun.

Even more frustrating is that they can threaten your home and health. Learning about these pests' threats gives you a better understanding of ant control and prevention.

Other Pests

Many forget that ants aren't just nuisance pests for us; they're viable food sources for larger, predatory pests. As a result, other pests will be attracted to your home and be more likely to enter and stay there. Spiders, for example, hunt ants and will be more likely to hang around your property if it offers this plentiful food source. Keeping ants away from your home can help limit the chances of a secondary pest infestation.

Health Risks

The potential health risk that particular species of ants pose is another threat that needs to be taken seriously. Some species of ants can bite and pinch the skin with their mouth and mandibles if threatened. Although these bites can be painful and uncomfortable, they are typically not dangerous. However, the skin may itch or even become infected if you don't treat and clean the bite.

The potential for food contamination is another health risk posed by ants. Many species of ants are attracted to human food and will infiltrate your kitchen or pantry in search of a food source. If they access your food, they can potentially contaminate it with bacteria and pathogens they may have picked up on their bodies. Similarly, food preparation surfaces, dishes, and utensils can also become contaminated.

Damage to Your Home

You likely already know the potential harm termites can do to your house, but you might not be aware that one ant species can also cause significant damage to your home over time.

Hollow spaces and damp, rotting wood are ideal habitats for carpenter ants to build their nests. These ants tunnel through the wood, causing damage rather than actually eating the wood.

Aside from physically seeing ants in your home, you might have a carpenter ant infestation if you notice piles of wood shavings underneath a wooden surface. Typically, carpenter ants are black in color and range from 1/4 to 1/2 inches in length. Additionally, the ants may be moving about and boring through more wood if you hear an unexplained light rustling in the walls or other parts of your house.

Knowing the risks associated with ants in your home is all the more reason you need to call Neighborly Pest Management if you suspect you have an infestation.

All The Factors That Attract Ants To Homes

In most cases, when we have ant problems, it's due to conducive conditions in our homes. All the factors listed below can attract ants to your Roseville home:

• Leaving food out
• Improper food storage
• Leaking pipes and faucets 
• Greasy surfaces
• Sticky floors and surfaces
• Decaying wood too close to your home
• Sticky garbage cans
• Moisture issues that create water sources for ants

One thing to remember about ants is that they have a powerful sense of smell and can smell food from hundreds of miles away. So, the habits listed above of having greasy surfaces and leaving food out is an open invitation for ants to enter your home, especially if you have even the slightest cracks or crevices accessible to ants. Taking steps to avoid these factors can help to prevent ant infestations in your home. With that said, ant issues may arise in spite of your best efforts. If you are dealing with an infestation, contact Neighborly Pest Management for ant control solutions.

Professional Ant Control Is The Way To Go For Your Home

To control an infestation, pest-proofing your home can be an excellent place to start. However, if ants continue to invade, you might need to hire experts. Neighborly Pest Management can help if you need assistance permanently removing ants from your home. We provide the Roseville area with quick and efficient home pest control services that can permanently eradicate ant infestations. Contact us today for a free ant control quote.