Ant removal in Charlotte is more important than you might think. In fact, we would even say that it’s a necessary part of being a homeowner in Charlotte. Ants are common here, and that’s not about to change anytime soon.
So what can you do? Well, you can certainly call in the help of a professional pest control service. That’s a great option for reasons we’ll be getting into later. But there are also many steps you can take on your own to reduce the frequency of ant infestations and generally discourage them from coming near your home.
Let’s talk about the options you have as well as ant behavior so that you can better understand why these pests are so persistent and why they’re so common in our homes. There’s always a reason. There’s always something drawing ants toward a human space, and knowing what those reasons are makes it easier to mitigate them. Here’s how ants behave and how you can keep them out of your home.
The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
Despite there being many types of ants in Charlotte, different species share many aspects of growth and development. There are four central stages of the ant life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and the adult stage, which is also the stage when ants transition into specialized roles to properly serve the interests of the colony. These roles are also very important to the overall development of an ant colony.
Basically, ants can be queens (though very few are), drones, or workers. Again, there are minor differences between species in this respect, but these apply generally to many species. Queens are responsible for reproduction. Drones mate with the queen ant so that the queen ant can continue to populate the colony. Worker ants keep the colony running from day to day.
In fact, when you see ants scurrying along your kitchen floor or crawling up a wall, you are almost definitely seeing worker ants who leave the colony to look for food and other important resources. In certain species, worker ants will also attack anything that threatens the colony.
Ant Problems: Health Concerns And Property Damage
There are many questions that surround the risks of ants on your property. What are some of the problems that ants can cause in the home? Do ants carry disease? Can they damage the home itself?
There are a variety of problems ants can cause in your home, from contaminating food to simply being a nuisance. Let’s tackle the disease question first. The answer is yes, but it’s not that ants have these diseases themselves and spread them to others. Instead, ants carry and transmit certain germs that, when they come into contact with humans, can lead to the development of a disease.
So yes, ants can spread diseases to humans, and this threat should be taken seriously. But it’s also far from the only problem that ants can cause. Moving on the question of property damage, the answer is once again yes, though there’s a qualifier to that answer. Not all types of ants can cause property damage in significant ways, but certain types of ants definitely can.
In general, ants should be treated as a threat to your home and health and dealt with as quickly as possible.
Ant Prevention Is Key: Effective Tips And Tricks
What keeps ants away? Now that we’ve talked a bit about how ants operate and why their presence can lead to problems, it’s time to turn our attention to prevention. These tips and tricks will help keep ants away from your property:
Try not to leave pet food out overnight. Even a water bowl can attract ants.
Block or repair any small openings in the outer walls of your home.
Repair leaking pipes and try to reduce the levels of moisture inside your home.
Place all leftover food in air-tight containers.
Disinfect surfaces, especially in the kitchen, to deter scouting ants and interrupt ant communication.
While these are easy tips, it’s especially important to keep up with them over the long term to reduce the chances that ants will see your home as an appealing resource.
Ant Control Done Right: Call The Experts For Complete Ant Control
Working with an ant control service near your home is the best bet for completely removing ants from your property. A local pest control company will know exactly which species are common in the area, and they’ll know exactly how to deal with them. For home pest control services in Charlotte, call ProForce Pest Control right away.
Our certified pest experts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Simply fill out this form for a free, no-obligation estimate.