Ant Infestation?

Ant Infestation?

Ants are one of the most commonly found pests inside your home and will require a very specific treatment plan to provide you with maximum ant control.  Ants enter Colorado homes for any number of reasons, but more than likely, they are searching for food.  Your home represents a possible food and water source.  It can also provide protection from predators and the elements, thus serving as a potential site for new colonies once they are ready to expand.

The most common mistake people make when attempting ant control is only spraying the ones they see.  This approach usually fails because the ants seen foraging over exposed surfaces is only a small portion of the colony. Typically, there will be thousands more of additional ants including one or more (multiple) egg-laying queens hidden somewhere else in a nest.  Eliminating the queen or multiple queens and other colony members within the nest(s) is often the key to effective ant control.  Ant control may require several treatments and different methods of application and treatments to include: granular baits, gel baits, dusts, and potentially some liquid spray pesticide applications.

Identification

First, our technician will need to identify what type of ants in Colorado are infesting your home.  Identification is key when determining the proper treatment for your home.  Knowing the species of ants, you are dealing with is very important.  If you know your enemy, you will know where to find the nest, what sources of food are attracting them, and which management methods will be the most effective.

For example, tiny black ants generally reside in their colony outdoors.  Ants in Colorado enter homes to scavenge for food such as sugar, starches, and meat.  Tiny black ant infestations are best treated by following the ant’s trail back to the colony and treating the problem at the source.  The next step of our ant control process would be to seal off any/all points of entry so that any remaining ants cannot get into your home.

On the other hand, carpenter ants require a much more detailed approach. Carpenter ant control is difficult in that they typically have multiple nest/colony locations that can be found both inside and outside your home.  These nests/colonies can cause wood damage, and since moist wood is typically found in previously damaged locations (i.e. places with water leaks, foundations that were exposed to the elements, etc.) they can potentially create a bigger nuisance than just having a few ants walking across your counter.

Black Ants

Carpenter Ants