Pest Spotlight: Ant Control In Waltham
5/15/2023
Ant control can seem like a constant uphill battle. Once one ant decides that your home is the perfect place to stay, it doesn't take long to develop into a full-blown ant infestation.
In Waltham, a few different ants can cause trouble inside and outside your home. If you are struggling with an ant problem, our experienced Waltham pest control specialists are here to help. At Assurance Pest Solutions, we know the quickest and easiest way to make your home ant-free for good.
Quick Identification Guide For Waltham Ants
There are many types of ants that live in this area. Some of the various types of ants that you are most likely to see outside of your Waltham home include:
- Pavement ants: These ants are commonly seen nesting between the cracks on sidewalks, porches, and other paved areas. They have solid black bodies and are about ⅛ of an inch long. They usually stay outside but will come inside if they think there is food or water that is easy to access.
- Pharaoh ants: This is one of the most unique-looking ants in the area. The pharaoh ant is only about 1/16 of an inch long and can have a pale yellow body with a dark-red abdomen. They are commonly found in commercial properties, like hotels and restaurants, but they will invade homes as well.
- Odorous house ants: These ants have black or brown bodies and usually only grow to be around ⅛ of an inch long. They get their name from the foul smell they release when they are crushed.
The ants that are commonly found in this area will eat almost anything. If they sense that you have sweets, meats, or even rotten food available, they will try to come inside to get it.
Should You Kill Ants You See Inside?
When you see an ant in your home, your first thought may be to squash it. But this may actually make your problem worse. When you kill an ant, it will release a pheromone that will attract other ants to the location. While it's important to get rid of ants in your home, you also need to make sure to thoroughly clean the area immediately.
Call Us At The First Sign Of An Ant Problem Around Your Home
Ants in Waltham are social insects that never live alone. Typically, there can be several thousand ants living together in one colony. If you see just one ant in your home, there is a good chance that you are seeing a worker ant or a scout ant. This type of ant will scout out a specific area. Then, if it deems the area safe or finds a food source, it will release a pheromone that will signal the other worker ants to come to that location.
This means that even if you are seeing just a few ants, there are almost certainly several hundred or thousand more hiding in the deepest crevices of your home. As soon as you see the first ant, you should give us a call. The sooner you take action to eliminate the ants, the better your chances of having a positive outcome.
Five Naturally Effective Ways To Prevent Future Ant Infestations
Some things that you can do to keep ants out of your home in the first place include:
- Keep your kitchen area clean.
- Only eat in one area of your home.
- Fix any moisture issues that you have around your home.
- Keep the grass in your yard cut short.
- Don't stack firewood right next to your home.
If you have tried these preventative tricks and are still seeing ants in your Waltham home, give us a call today. At Assurance Pest Solutions, we can quickly and permanently get rid of the ants in and around your home. Call for a free estimate and to learn more about our residential pest control services in Waltham.