We have written about ants before, but we see such an increase in calls this time of year due to these little creatures that we think they deserve yet another blog devoted just to these obnoxious pests!  Our professionals receive more calls about ants than any other pest.  And this isn’t exclusive just to our particular service areas!  According to the 2010 Pest Control Attitudes and Usage Survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), ants are the number one nuisance pest in America.  Maybe it’s because you never see just one or two ants in your home.  No, when ants come inside looking for food, it seems like hundreds are invading your home all at once!

There are a few things you can do to help prevent ants.  These things can include:

• Wipe up crumbs and spills and don’t allow dirty dishes to accumulate.  Make sure food is stored in tightly-sealed containers.  Ants are looking to feed on any food they can find in your home and because they are tiny, they are capable of crawling through even the tiniest of holes to get to the food which they desire. 

• Eliminate standing water. Pests such as ants are attracted to moisture.

• Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house.

• Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around your house. Sometimes ants use these to get into your home.

• Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.

Although ants are a nuisance pest, they don’t typically cause any health problems for you or your family members. Carpenter ants can become a problem for you if they hollow out the wood in your home to nest, so if you have a carpenter ant problem present, it is important to have these pests eliminated before they cause structural problems in your home.  

If you are having ant problems in your home or even around your property, we encourage you to call a professional for help.  Trying to treat for ants using over-the-counter products can actually make the infestation worse because the ants may separate from the main nest and create new colonies, meaning there will be that many more ants to deal with.  The best way to eliminate an ant infestation is to have a pest control professional locate the ant nest and treat it with an effective ant control solution. For more information on ant control and to schedule your first inspection, contact the pros at Schendel Pest Services today! 

This blog was originally published on May 17, 2011, but we have updated it to reflect the most recent and accurate information available in helping you combat frustrating ant problems.