Ants are a vital part of the natural ecosystem and offer many benefits, such as soil aeration through the tunnels they make and dispersing seeds they carry that sprout into new plants. However, these insects’ natural home is outdoors, not inside your home.
If you suspect an ant problem in your home, look for these five warning signs. Precise Termite & Pest Control can help you get rid of ants from the very first signs of activity around your home and yard.
1. Actually Seeing Ants
The most obvious all signs of an ant infestation is visible, live ants inside your home. If you see more than just one or two ants crawling around, you likely have a more significant problem that has yet to be uncovered.
Check around your kitchen, especially in food storage and prep areas, to determine the severity of the ant problem. Some of the most common types of ants include pavement ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, and field ants.
2. Rustling Noises
Certain types of ants, such as carpenter ants, make noise when they build their nests inside wooden walls. If you hear unexplained noises, some pest is often to blame.
3. Ant Droppings
Ant droppings are pieces of fecal matter the insects leave behind while residing in a home. The droppings may also consist of soft wood pieces that are combined with the feces. Although small, significant amounts of ant droppings are clear signs that you need to call a professional exterminator.
4. Ant Trails
Aside from feces, ants often leave trails of other materials behind as they crawl from one area of a home to another. For example, you may see brown sawdust trails made from wood shavings and debris that carpenter ants leave behind as they burrow and chew through your home.
This chewing can also damage electrical wiring in your house and cause short circuits and fires. Any kind of ant trail you see is a severe sign of an ant infestation.
5. Dirt Mounds
It is also common to see mounds of dirt among the signs of an infestation in a house. Ant nests resemble small piles of dirt, often near sidewalks or your home’s foundation. You may see larger piles of dirt around your property where growing populations of ants are living.
Professional Help with Your Ant Problem
An ant problem is a significant cause for concern because these pests can contaminate food, spread bacteria, and contaminate food-prep areas in your home. Ants are challenging to get rid of on your own. Fortunately, Precise Termite & Pest Control is here to help with free inspections and prompt, affordable, and reliable service.
If you discover more than just a few ants in your home, it is time to rely on the expertise of a pest control specialist to get the job done right. We offer species-appropriate, safe, and effective ant control solutions year-round and are just a quick phone call away.
We are your local ant experts and can be reached at 866-971-2847 or via online form. We look forward to putting your mind at ease and helping you live ant-free.