When you think about dangerous pests, what creatures come to mind? Most people think about animals like wasps, bees, and rats. One dangerous pest that usually goes under the radar is the pharaoh ant. These small invading ants regularly get into homes in the Fort Worth area and pose a unique threat to residents. To help you understand the severity of having these pests inside your home or business, and to be able to tell them apart from other area ants, here are some things you should know.
What Are Pharaoh Ants?
Pharaoh ants are a social group of pests that live in our area and regularly get into homes and businesses. Identify one of these pests by its 1/16”, pale yellow to red body, and darker-colored abdomen. Pharaoh ants live on a diet of sweets, proteins, and oils. To find food these pests crawl over floors, under appliances, across countertops, and through trash cans. This type of behavior is part of the reason why Pharaoh ants are so dangerous.
Some Ways Pharaoh Ants Get Into Homes
Pharaoh ants are small pests so they do not require large openings or spaces to squeeze their way into homes and businesses. Most often they will find their way inside through gaps and cracks in the exterior foundation of buildings. They may also get inside around damaged window/door frames, ripped screens, weathered door sweeps, and improperly installed weatherstripping.
What Makes Pharaoh Ants Dangerous?
Pharaoh ants in and of themselves are not dangerous. If they were kept in a cage their entire life they would pose no threat at all. It is only because they roam through dirty areas and consume items that are covered in bacteria that they are harmful to humans. As these pests crawl throughout homes, they can spread disease-causing organisms over countertops, other surfaces, and accessible food.
Two common diseases you might contract from these pests are salmonellosis and staphylococcus. Avoid diseases like these by cleaning your home regularly and taking the needed steps to keep out pharaoh ants. These ants have been found to cause major problems in hospitals as they can get moisture from the mouths of sleeping people or IV bottles. They also are known for getting into wounds.
How To Prevent Pharaoh Ants
There are many ways to deter pharaoh ants from breaking into your home or business. To break things down for you today, here are some tips and tricks our experts recommend you start with:
- Identify and seal gaps and cracks in your business or home’s exterior foundation and spacing around window/door frames using a caulking gun.
- Repair damage to window/door screens.
- Make sure weather stripping and door sweeps are in good working condition and installed properly.
- Clean up food messes and drink spills as they happen.
- Wash down countertops, mop floors, and vacuum carpets regularly.
- Address moisture issues such as leaky pipes, broken fixtures, and damaged/clogged gutters.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors.
Why Pharaoh Ants Are Difficult To Eliminate
One thing that makes Pharaoh ants so problematic is that they are difficult to eliminate. When faced with danger, colonies split, forming new nests in a process called budding. This regularly happens when home and business owners use DIY elimination tactics to handle these pests and the result is that infestations grow more rapidly.
A Great Answer To Pharaoh Ants
If you regularly find ants around your home or business and are looking for a way to get and keep them out, look no further than the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. Our team of dedicated, qualified technicians offers a range of services to handle any of your pest control needs. Contact our team today to learn more about our ant control options and find a service plan to solve your Fort Worth property's ant problems.