Ants are opportunity pests. When opportunities present themselves for these pests to invade and steal food around homes, they take those opportunities. If you are having trouble keeping these invasive insects out of your Opelika home, let us help. Here is why ants want to invade your property, and here are a few clever ways to keep them out.
Ant Species Common Around Opelika
Ants are nothing without their variety. In Opelika, we have roughly 170 species of ants, many of which love invading homes. Here are some of the most common species and how to identify each.
Argentine Ants: An argentine ant is 2.2 to 2.8mm long, light to dark brown, and has a smooth hairless body. Known for displacing other native ant species in the area, Argentine ants make a name for themselves as annoying pests.
Pharaoh Ants: A Pharoah ant is 2mm long, light yellow, and has red and black markings on its abdomen. This invasive pest is one of the few species of ants that transmits disease-causing organisms. Two diseases Pharaoh ant commonly spread around homes are salmonellosis and staphylococcus.
Odorous House Ants: An Odorous house ant is 2.4 to 3.3 mm long, dark brown or black, and has an uneven abdomen. As their name suggests this pest releases a pungent unpleasant odor when squished or threatened. Beyond this bad smell, these pests are no real threat to humans and are mostly just annoying.
Pavement Ants: A pavement ant is 2.5 to 3mm long, light brown to black, and has appendages that are lighter than its body. Known for building their homes around and under paved areas, this pest loves coming into homes to steal food. Thankfully, pavement ants are solely nuisance pests.
Crazy Ants: A crazy ant is 2.2 to 3mm long, dark brown to black, and is erratic in the way it crawls around. Despite their crazy behavior, these common household pests pose no risk to homeowners except in the way they contaminate food.
Why Ants Get Into Homes
Ants will invade a home for one of two reasons: to search for food or escape unfavorable conditions outside. All your home needs for ants to accomplish these goals is a way inside.
Most often ants get inside through gaps and cracks in exterior foundations, tears in window or door screens, damaged weather stripping, and spacing around open doors and windows.
How To Prevent Ants
There are many ways to reduce your home’s chances of having ant problems. Here are a few of the best ways our experts recommend:
- Eliminate clutter around your property.
- Keep your grass cut short.
- Pick up fruits, berries, and other food that falls into your yard.
- Using high-quality caulk, fill holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and spacing
- around window/door frames.
- Makes sure all of your exterior doors have door sweeps.
- Repair damage to window/door screens and make sure weatherstripping is properly installed.
- Address moisture issues around your home.
- Keep your kitchen, dining room, and other areas where you eat and drink clean.
- Store leftover food inside airtight containers.
To ensure ants keep their grubby legs off your food, get the experts at Prewett Pest Control involved. Our team has the comprehensive pest control solutions your home needs to fight back against ants year-round.
Are you ready to find out what living without pests is like? Contact our team today to find out and schedule your home for a service visit.