Ants are a common pest to encounter around Houston, but this doesn’t mean they are any less troublesome. Understanding ants and the problems they may present to you can help you prevent this pest.
Why Ants Are a Problem For Your Home
Ants are a tiny insect that ranges in color from red to black. They have six legs, their bodies have three joints, and they have strong jaws used to transport or process food. In the Houston area, there are more than 250 native ant species, but you may encounter some varieties around your property more often than others.
It is important to note that most individuals consider ants to be nuisance pests, but many of these ant species can be quite dangerous and destructive when left uncontrolled. No ant should be welcome in your home, especially if you want to avoid negative ant encounters.
Among the ant species are a few varieties that are more of a nuisance pest than others. These ants can contaminate food as they invade your home and scavenge through your kitchen or other food storage areas.
- Carpenter Ants: The largest species of ant, carpenter ants, will create nests indoors in walls, ceilings, and hollow doors that comprise the structure of your home. They will also search out meat, eggs, and greasy or sweet foods inside your home, leaving your kitchen crawling with this pest and increasing your risk for food-borne illnesses.
- Acrobat Ants: This ant is similar to carpenter ants in that it nests inside your home’s walls and insulation, compromising the structure. This ant will also search for protein-rich and sugary foods and will bite humans if disturbed.
- Rover Ants: This ant variety will make its nest in indoor wall structures, cinder blocks, light sockets, and electrical outlets. They prefer sweet foods, especially sweet liquids, and are unlikely to sting or bite humans, making them more of a nuisance to your home’s structure and food storage areas than anything else.
You may also encounter ants that are more dangerous and destructive in nature, like the species below:
- Fire Ants: One of the most dangerous ant types, fire ants typically create their nests outdoors. They are pretty aggressive and will bite if their nest is disturbed; their bite is painful and dangerous to individuals with allergies to insect stings. Occasionally, fire ants will invade indoors searching for food, but they are unlikely to build a nest there.
- Pharoah Ants: This ant species will make its nest indoors, typically in places like wall voids, electrical boxes, under appliances, in wall outlets, and underneath carpets. This can cause significant destruction in your home as the ants' nest presents a serious risk of being bitten by this ant. The bites can cause pain, swelling, and rashes.
You should also be aware that all of these ant species can bring diseases into your home, including shigella, clostridium, salmonella, staph, strep, and E. coli. As the ants enter your food storage areas, there is a significant chance of contamination and illness.
Professional Ant Control
No matter the type of ant invading your home, you should contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for total ant control. The experts will be able to provide you with a thorough inspection both inside and outside of your property and offer you personalized solutions that effectively remove any ant problem you may be experiencing. Call us today for a safe approach to pest management.