What all Loveland homeowners should know about ant extermination
Ants are a common problem for homeowners in the greater Loveland area. And though there are many off-the-shelf treatment methods that can be found in any home repair, hardware, or big box store, they’re not all created equal. And they’re not all effective in exterminating ants.
Typically, when we’re asked about the effectiveness of consumer-grade ant extermination products, it gets boiled down to one simple question: What’s better, spray or bait?
It’s a fair question. If you were to scan the shelves at any of the stores we mentioned above, you’d see a pretty equal balance of both types of products, and unless you’re professionals like us (who aren’t usually buying their products from these sources), it’s difficult to know which is more suitable for the effective extermination of your ant infestation.
If you want a professional recommendation from us, here it is: We choose bait over spray, every time. And we always recommend bait for indoor applications. (Though we should note that we do use sprays for specific aspects of our treatment program.)
Why do we believe so strongly in bait? Well, there are few important reasons that baiting inside is more effective than spraying indoors and outdoors:
Even if you spray, ants can bypass those areas and enter the home
Ants are smart, resilient, instinct-driven creatures. And although it is common for us to use spray outside to cover the perimeter of the home or areas infested, the ants can travel under concrete, behind siding, between the cracks in brick. You name it, they can find a way around it or through it.
Sprays are only useful for exterminating the ants you can see — not the ones you can’t
Ant colonies are bigger than you might think. Sometimes they can even number in the tens of thousands! Sprays can be effective in killing the ants you can see, but what about the ones still in the nest? What about the larvae? The queens? As long as she’s still laying eggs, you’ve still got an ant problem on your hands, and most sprays are not designed for this type of extermination.
Bait attacks what you can see, and what you can’t
The beauty of using bait when it comes to ant extermination is that the ants will confuse the bait for food. The worker ants who are responsible for locating and delivering food to the colony will bring the bait back to the nest, feeding the queen, the larvae, and the rest of the colony, essentially feeding them their last meals.
Sprays can sometimes create new ant colonies
It’s true. Even though sprays can do a decent job of killing those visible ants, one negative side effect of sprays is that they can cause ant colonies to fracture, ultimately creating multiple ant colonies (or satellite nests) that must be dealt with, compounding your problem several times over.
Sprays will dissolve or evaporate at a faster rate than baits will. Sometimes it will seem that the colony is finally gone, and then an influx of ants will suddenly appear. Having strategically placed bait traps are longer lasting, more effective, and better suited for long-term extermination solutions.
Though proper care, education, and precaution are always a must when using any sort of exterminant, baits are a safer option for families and pets. Good pest management should give you greater peace of mind, not one more reason to be concerned for the safety of your loved ones!
Want to finally rid your home and property of ants and other pests?
Why are we Loveland’s preferred pest control service? Because our goal is to provide you the best value possible, that’s why your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed! Call Effective Pest Services today!
