Ants are attracted to homes by food or water they can provide for their colony. They're mainly nuisances, and most people aren’t concerned about their presence, but there are health concerns residents should understand.
These creatures live in large colonies and will continue to infest your home if you provide entry and attractants. They’re hard to eliminate, but Pasadena pest control professionals know how to protect your property. Read further to learn about ants and how to keep them out of your Pasadena home.
Identifying Common Ant Species
The tiny sizes of ants make them hard to identify, but the different species present unique concerns and require individual treatments for removal. Fortunately, there are ways to tell these tiny creatures apart.
Knowing the appearance of invasive ants will help you determine the species in your home. The common types of ants that infest Pasadena homes include:
- Pharaoh ants are 1/16 of an inch and pale yellow or reddish with a dark abdomen.
- Odorous house ant sizes are 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch and brown or black.
- Acrobat ants are 1/8 of an inch and light brown to black.
- Pavement ants are 1/8 of an inch and dark brown to black.
Even if you know how to identify these pests, they can be hard to see. They’re tiny and constantly moving, so it usually takes a trained eye to determine the species in your house. For this reason, pest professionals are the best option to find and eliminate them.
The Health Risks Of An Ant Infestation
Most invasive ants are nuisances but not health risks. They contaminate food and can cause minor damage to your yard or wires in your house. Some species can bite, resulting in allergic reactions, but don’t spread illnesses.
Pharaoh ants can spread illnesses when they invade Pasadena homes. They're most troublesome around sterile materials, but you can also find them in soft drinks, fruit juices, and baked goods. Illnesses spread by pharaoh ants include:
- Salmonellosis
- Staphylococcus
- Clostridium
- Streptococcus
Since many ants don’t present health risks, you might not be concerned about infestations in your home. But if pharaoh ants are around, you’ll want to avoid any food or beverages they infest and call ant control professionals to eliminate them.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation
As you can see, ants can create problems when they infest Pasadena homes. They enter through tiny entry points, and their sizes allow them to hide in hard-to-see and reach spaces. They travel in large numbers, so eliminating some won’t solve your problem. Instead, you’ll need professional help to end an infestation of your home.
Our technicians at Accutech Pest Management will inspect your house to identify the ants and determine the factors attracting them. We use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques to safely and effectively remove the pests and offer follow-up visits for further protection. Call us to get rid of ants in your Pasadena home.
Five Naturally Effective Ways To Prevent Ants From Coming Back
Ants infest buildings in large numbers and leave a trail for others to follow, so they can find their way to food and moisture if you don’t disrupt that trail. Preventing these pests from getting into your house in the first place is the best way to avoid the problems they cause.
Fortunately, some tips enable you to perform ant control for homeowners. Five naturally-effective ant prevention tips for your home include:
- Fix moisture issues
- Seal cracks and gaps
- Clean crumbs and spills and store food in containers with tight lids
- Remove trash from your house frequently
- Keep wood and vegetation away from your home
Once the ants invade your house, you’ll need professional help to remove them. Our Accutech Pest Management experts can find where the ants are hiding, identify the species, and develop an effective solution. Call us to learn more about keeping ants out of your Pasadena home.