There are some pests that you see that are a real nuisance. Ants are one of those pests. Not because of their size or necessarily their bite but because of the vast and large colonies that they tend to live in. Depending on the species the colony can reach the thousands with many of the army out foraging for food. The problem for homeowners is when these pesky ants find their food source close to your home or even in your home. They can not only be a real nuisance for the fact that they can span your entire counter but depending on the species they can cause some serious damage. The damage can be bad enough that you will need to hire a professional to make repairs as well as pest control to deal with the ant itself. Effective Pest Services spotlights some of the ants found in Northern Colorado, whether these ant species cause damage, and how best to deal with them.
Carpenter Ants
One of the most common ants that are found in our area is the carpenter ant. They are an ant that is known for the damage that cause. The damage is done to wood beams and other wood surfaces that are exposed in your home. The wood is being damaged as the ants chew through the wood to tunnel for their colony members. The difference with the carpenter ant is that they don’t actually eat the wood that they damage. They need to also go and find food that can be other insects, fruits and other nectar.
Pavement Ant
Another ant that is found around in Northern Colorado the area is the pavement ant. They received their name from the the area they like to call home. The pavement ant is going to be found often times in the cracks and crevices of sidewalks, driveways and walkways. These can end up being quite close to your house which can lead to an infestation in your home. Although they enjoy the pavement they still need to get food which can be any kind of sweets. They will go after spilled sugar or dripping syrup. They are known to leave the comfort of their pavement to get food in your home. Pavement ants do not cause structural damage.
Odorous House Ants
Odorous ants also enter homes in search of food, preferring sweets and meats. These insects create nests in wall or floor voids as well as kitchen pantries and cupboards. True to their name, odorous ants release an unpleasant smell when crushed. While they don’t cause structural damage, when they invade kitchen storage and food preparation areas, Odorous house ants have a tendency to contaminate food products.
Does Squishing Ants Attract More?
No matter what kind of ant you are dealing with, the first thing you may think to do is to start squishing them. Not only will this not make a dent in the infestation but it will lose the track to the source and can even attract more ants as they release pheromones warning of danger that will rally the troops! You need to call a pest control company to come out and treat the ant infestation at the source to ensure that the ant queen is killed.
Wasp Pest Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal & More in Wellington, Fort Collins, Timnath, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Johnstown, Berthoud, Estes Park & Loveland, CO | Northern Colorado
Effective Pest Services offers expert custom pest control services to treat for all kinds of ants and other pests that may infest your home. Call us to schedule a consultation today!