Why Are There Ants In My Hammond Home?

by | Pest Control

pest control for ants

As a Louisiana homeowner, you’re probably no stranger to ants. Their small brown hills can be seen in yards across the country during warmer months of the year, and the climate around Hammond provides the perfect mix of factors that allow them to thrive. Once they get established in your yard, it’s only a matter of time before they start making their way into your home so you may want to consider calling a pest control service right away.

Keeping ants out of your home can feel like an impossible task – but it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn more about the different types of ants that could try to invade your home, what’s driving them inside, and what you can do to stop them.

When it comes to residential ant infestations, the four most common culprits homeowners in our Louisiana service area find are fire ants, crazy ants, pharaoh ants, and odorous house ants. While each of these is similar in size and general appearance, they vary in behavior and other defining characteristics.

Fire ants are one of the most commonly found ants inside homes. They range from 1/16 inch – 1/4 inch in length. They are distinguished by their red coloration and their painful stings, both of which give them their name. Because of their huge colony structure and ability to infest across several properties, they are among the toughest ants to prevent.

Crazy ants are named for their erratic behavior, moving in all directions instead of in orderly lines like other species. They are small (1/8 inch) in size and black in color, and are most often found in soil and tree cavities outdoors, but will move inside to escape winter conditions.

Pharaoh ants are about 1/6 inch in length and are identifiable by their pale yellow coloration. They are mostly a threat to hospitals when they infest IV units and preparation areas, but in residential settings are most commonly attracted to the presence of sugary food and drinks, grease stains, and other dead insects they can feed on.

Odorous house ants are named for the unpleasant smell they give off when crushed or threatened. They are roughly 1/8 to 3/16 inches in length, with black bodies. They are most commonly found indoors after creating nests within wall or floor voids and are attracted by sweet meats.

What’s Attracting Ants in my Home?

Like any other animal, ants need food, water, and shelter to survive. While their colonies provide shelter, your home provides more than enough food and water to sustain the colony.

Ants regularly send out scouts to look for sources of food and water, which then return to the colony to report their findings. This means that all it takes is one ant to find food or water in your home, then come back – with all its friends.

Preventing Ants In Your Home

If you want to minimize your risk for ants infesting your home, here are some helpful tips you should follow:

  • Store food in air-tight containers that prevent ants from getting inside.
  • Clean up crumbs and spills in the kitchen immediately.
  • Make sure your interior and exterior trash cans have tight-fitting lids.
  • Fix any leaks or moisture problems that could provide a water source to ants.
  • Clean and vacuum floors and carpets regularly.
  • Wipe down countertops and shelves regularly to eliminate ant trails.
  • Seal any holes or gaps in your walls that could allow them inside.

Unfortunately, even if you follow all of these steps to the letter, ants can still become a problem. Due to their small size, ability to reach almost anywhere in your home, and the sheer numbers of ants that live in each colony, sometimes an infestation is inevitable if they get established in your yard. If this is the case and you cant get rid of the ants, please call a pest control service in Hammond as soon as possible.

That’s why, when it comes to ants, the only long-term solution is to get help from a professional pest control provider. Luckily, no one stops ants better than DAT Exterminating. If ants have invaded your Hammond home, or you’re afraid they might in the future, contact us today and find out why comprehensive ant treatment from DAT is the perfect one-stop solution for all your ant problems.