Ants can be one of the most difficult pests to get rid of in your home. These tiny creatures are able to hide in almost any crack or crevice in your house. Because they tend to live in large colonies that contain over 100,000 ants, it can be difficult for the average person to determine when an ant infestation has successfully been eradicated.
Statewide Alliance has provided pest control in Hampton for over five decades. Getting rid of ants can be tough, but our experienced ant control specialists know the key to winning the battle against ant infestations.
Ant Behavior: Social Hierarchy And Communication
Ants live in large colonies. In order to keep the colony running like a well-oiled machine, every ant has a job that they must do. All ants in Hampton start as eggs and then progress to larvae and pupa. Once they reach adulthood, they will go into one of three caste systems:
- Queens: The queens are the female reproductive ants. Their only job is to lay eggs and reproduce. In most colonies, there is only one queen. However, some ant species will have several queens living in one colony.
- Males: All male ants in the colony belong to the reproductive group. Like the queen, they also only have one job, which is to reproduce. Many times, the male will die shortly after mating with the queen. While other members in the colony can live for several years or decades, the males tend to have the shortest lifespan and will usually only live for a few days after reaching full maturity.
- Workers: There are usually more worker ants than any other group in the colony. All worker ants are female. Reproduction is the only job that the workers are not tasked with. They are in charge of building the nest, foraging for food, feeding the baby ants, taking care of the queen, and doing any other tasks that may need to be done.
When a worker goes to look for food, usually, only one or two will go at a time. If they find food, they will leave a pheromone trail that will alert the other ants. Because ants aren't able to speak, they use their pheromones to communicate. The pheromones are released frequently and are similar to leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. When you see ants walking in a straight, single-file line, it is because they are following the same trail.
Ant Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Ant Infestation
Ants are much more than just annoying pests. They are filthy scavengers known to pick up a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens while looking for food. If their dirty bodies walk across your food, they could pass these pathogens to you. Some people have reported transmitting various illnesses, including staph infections, streptococcus, and salmonellosis, after having an ant infestation in their homes.
Ant Prevention Is Key: Effective Tips And Tricks
Because ants can invade your home quickly, the best way to keep your home ant-free is to prevent them from coming inside your home in the first place. There are a few different things that you can try if you want to prevent ants in your home, which include:
- Keep all open pet food and pantry food in a sealable container
- Make sure to clean up any spills or food crumbs quickly
- Don't let the grass in your yard get too high
Ants are likely to come into your home if they think there is accessible food inside, and they aren't too picky when it comes to finding a meal. They will eat fresh fruits and meats or rotten trash and compost.
Professional Ant Control: Eliminate The Infestation
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to eliminate ants fast, call Statewide Alliance today. We can quickly help get rid of ants with our home pest control services in Hampton.