Ants are a sneaky type of insect that can stealthily make their way from the outdoors into an indoor space, such as a home or business. While ants generally do not pose any severe threats to human health, they can still be a nuisance that disrupts a person’s day-to-day activities and comfort within their own home.
Using professional pest control services is the best way to ensure that ants are taken care of and prevented from entering a home or other indoor area. If a building has a particularly persistent ant problem, preventative treatments may be needed monthly.
In this article, we will discuss why pest control is the best method for ant removal, as well as signs to look out for that indicate an infestation. Keep reading to learn more about professional and at-home pest control. Plus, we will cover different types of ants to keep an eye out for and safety considerations to keep in mind regarding treatment solutions.
Pest Control Can Help Rid a Home of Ants
Having ants in the home can be quite bothersome and result in foods and snacks being thrown out due to ants getting into food storage spaces. Foods can become contaminated when touched by ants that have entered the home, as ants have the potential to carry bacteria from other sources they have walked over, such as dirty pavements or dog feces.
Unfortunately, it can be somewhat challenging to notice ants in the home in the early stages, meaning it is more likely to discover the ants once an infestation is already taking place. If a house is already infested with ants before the owner has the opportunity to take preventative measures, calling a pest control specialist is critical.
According to NZ Pest Control, it is important to seek the help of ant removal specialists, as ants can be rather tricky to get rid of due to their “foraging habits and colony development.” Finding a nest is the key to stopping an infestation, and pest control professionals will have a much easier time locating the said nest.
How Often to Use Pest Control Services
Taking preventative measures against ant infestations is crucial, so proceeding with an ant prevention treatment at least once annually is recommended. However, depending on where a home is located, ants may be a more prevalent issue that requires more frequent attention.
For instance, housing or buildings that are nearby heavily forested areas may be at greater risk for ant infestations, as fallen logs and trees can make great nesting locations for the insects. These kinds of hollow spaces are great for ant habitats.
As such, it is generally a good idea to seek out pest control preventative services at least once a month to ensure no new nests that may be forming nearby are making their way into a home. A combination of both treatments and structural changes may ultimately be required.
Types of Treatments
There are a few main types of treatments that will likely be used by pest control specialists. The chemicals and solutions used in these treatments can sometimes be found in stores. However, it is essential that the person applying the chemical solution be aware of how to safely use it – this is especially true if there are other animals in the home that may be affected negatively from ingesting the solution.
Here are three of the most commonly used types of treatments for ant removal and infestation prevention:
- Sprays: Sprays are generally the most commonly seen type of treatment and are typically used on the exterior of a building’s perimeter and walkways. Though sprays can be useful, they do require the ants to walk over the top of the sprayed area, meaning that some may still slip by through alternative routes.
- Bait and Traps: Ant bait and traps are used for catching ants that have infiltrated an indoor space. Using sprays indoors is generally not recommended due to chemical fumes, so baited traps can help to remove any ants remaining inside.
- Slow Release Granules: The key to getting rid of ants is to attack the nest or colony. Slow-release granules can be placed on or in the nest once it has been found. This will result in treatment slowly releasing throughout the colony as it is dissolved by rainwater, ensuring the nest becomes unusable.
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Signs of an Ant Infestation
As mentioned, one of the major issues that makes it so difficult to remove ants without the help of a pest control specialist is the fact that, due to their size and speed, it can be tricky to notice ants in a home until it is already too late and the infestation has begun.
This can mean pretty bad news if the infestation goes too far before being noticed – especially considering a colony can be home to upwards of half a million ants, according to Rentokil.
Thus, it is critically important to be familiar with the signs of ant infestations and be aware of ant behavioral patterns that can help identify where the ants are coming from and why they are targeting specific areas within a home. This way, hopefully, you might be able to reduce the need for pest control services significantly or perhaps eliminate it altogether.
Food will be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to reasons why ants are entering a home. When looking for ants, always check around food storage areas where food items may be readily available to these tiny scavengers. This can include pet food storage as well.
Ant Trails
When ants make the trek from their outdoor colony into a home, they scout out the best route and use their pheromones to create a trail that other ants can follow to find the source of food they are being led to. Once this pathway has been made, more and more ants will begin to enter a home.
If the location to which the ants are traveling within a home is identified first, it will be much easier to scope out the rest of the ant trail. If there are ants presently in your house, simply follow them to see where the pathway leads – this will reveal where and how the ants are entering the indoor space.
Finding the ant trail is also key for effectively using bait, traps, and sprays, as the exact areas where the ants are entering and traveling can be targeted with treatment. However, keep in mind that if there are other un-treated areas of a home, the ants may resort to finding a different route.
Ant Nests
Ant nests are ultimately the root of the problem when it comes to an infestation. Locating and eliminating the source nest and colony is the key to stopping an infestation in its tracks.
According to the Pest Management Association of New Zealand, ants will generally nest in shallow soil and hollow spaces. This can include old hollow logs, holes or empty spaces in walls, and under pavement or concrete foundations.
Luckily, ant trails can be used to trace the pathway the insects are traveling and locate the nest. Keep in mind that though a nest can be destroyed, it is unlikely to kill all of the ants and they will likely just relocate. Thus, keeping up on preventative measures is still important even after an infestation has been adequately handled.
At-Home Methods for Pest Control
Though at-home treatments may not be as effective as services provided by pest control professionals, there are still some critical measures to take and best practices to follow to ensure a home is protected as much as possible from any unwanted insects crawling around. The last thing anyone wants is to find ants in their cupboards and on their counters!
Ensuring that at-home preventative methods are followed and looked after is an excellent way to cut back on future extermination and pest control costs by stopping infestations before they can begin. Moreover, it can help identify issues that may allow for additional infestations from insects who similarly enter a home to ants, such as cockroaches.
Ultimately, how a person maintains their own home will significantly impact the amount and frequency of pest infestations. Here are some of the most important considerations when it comes to at-home pest prevention and control:
Cleaning is Key
Food that is accessible to ants is the number one culprit of ant infestations within an indoor space. According to Lifestyle Focus, specific scout ants will enter a home before the others to search for an open food source they can all eat. Once that source has been identified is when the thousands of others will follow suit.
As such, it is critically important to make sure any food items that are not refrigerated are kept well sealed and stored to prevent ants from accessing them. This can include everything from snacks, such as opens bags of chips, to veggies and fruit.
It is equally essential to clean up any messes that occur from preparing and eating meals. Leftover scraps and unattended dirty dishes can be the perfect food source for ants. Additionally, overflowing or uncovered rubbish bins also attract pesky insects.
Repair Cracks and Holes
Ants are tiny in size, which allows them to fit through some pretty tight spaces. This means that even the slightest crack or hole within a building’s structure can lend a pathway to ants looking to come in to search for food.
Finding these cracks and holes can be a tricky task – finding and following an ant trail is the key to locating the point of entry. Once discovered, any openings that allow ants should be sealed over, and similar openings should be sought out.
Keeping a good barrier of spray around a house or building is an excellent way to prevent ants from returning to find a new route after being blocked out of their old entrances.
Remove Potential Nesting Areas
As mentioned, any hollow or covered space will attract ants for nesting purposes. One method for decreasing the risk of ants scouting and infesting a home is to remove any objects in the yard or the surrounding area of a building or home. This can include old tree stumps and firewood.
Ant-proofing a yard is not the most effective way to prevent ant infestations, as even just plain dirt can provide a home for these insects, but it can help diminish the chances that a specific area will be attractive to ants as a place to set up camp.
Insecticide sprays are one option for at-home pest control that can be sprayed around a yard. However, it is crucial to always pay attention to the labeling and warnings that come with an insecticide, as some may pose health risks to both family members and pets.
Keep an eye out for any above-ground nests that may appear in the form of dirt mounds. These can contain both common ants that are usually seen in homes and more aggressive or toxic species of ants that pose a more significant threat.
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Types of Ants Found in New Zealand
When it comes to the types of ants that can be found in New Zealand, the selection of species isn’t enormously wide –nine species are the most commonly seen in urban environments:
- Argentine Ants
- Black House Ants
- Big Headed Ants/Brown House Ants
- Darwin’s Ant
- Pavement Ant
- Pharaoh’s Ant
- Southern Ant
- Tiny Brown Ant
- White Footed Ant
Of these nine, the Argentine ant and the black house ants are the main types that homeowners should familiarise themselves with the most.
Argentine Ant
Argentine ants are one of the most majorly invasive species globally, and New Zealand is no exception to the spread. These ants are aggressive and can deal a pretty nasty bite, although they are not poisonous to human beings.
According to the Department of Conservation:
“Unlike other ants, Argentine ant nests cooperate and can build ‘super-colonies.’ They form these by connecting their nests through cooperation between worker ants, enabling a high density of nests which can grow to huge numbers.”
These super-colonies can become extremely problematic if they form in or near a building, and eradicating them can be quite a difficult task. Additionally, because the species is invasive, it is crucial to not accidentally worsen the species’ spread by separating the super-colonies and causing them to trek out into other areas.
As such, it is highly recommended to always contact pest control specialists when Argentine ants are discovered to ensure the eradication of the colony is thorough and precise.
Black House Ants
Black house ants are the type of ants a person is most likely to find in their house or yard in New Zealand. This is because black house ants are highly adaptable and able to establish colonies in most regions of the world. According to Flick Anticimex Company, their colonies can flourish in all sorts of nesting locations, including:
- In soil
- Under tree bark or in decayed trees
- Under rocks and stones
- Under grass
- Under cement slabs
- In cracks of building foundations
- In roofs or walls of buildings
This high level of adaptability and ability to survive in any environment makes this ant so compatible with infesting human environments and homes. Additionally, in wetter areas, these ants are likely to relocate to drier locations, such as inside the structure of a house.
Black house ants are the most active in the spring and summer since they mate in the wintertime, although it is not unlikely to see them in the winter as well.
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Safety of Ant Prevention Treatments
Preventing ants from entering a home is essential for keeping food from becoming contaminated or ruined by the pests and keeping a home insect-free. However, it is important to always keep in mind the inherent risks of sprays, insecticides, or other chemically based solutions that may be applied in or around a home.
Children and pets are the ones who are the most vulnerable to sprays or other similar treatments. Making sure to keep any chemicals stored safely and out of reach is a necessity, and being mindful of where the chemicals are being applied concerning where kids or pets may walk or play is equally important.
For the safest application of chemical treatments to prevent or stop ant infestations, the best idea is to consult with a pest control professional. They will be able to provide the best guidance on how to properly handle ants in the home.
Final Thoughts
Ants can be a nuisance, but they don’t have to be. Being mindful of how food is stored, fixing any holes or cracks in a houses’ structure, and keeping up with preventative measures are vital in keeping ants out of a home. However, if an ant infestation occurs or the house’s location is particularly prone to ant problems, pest control services can quickly help solve the problem.