Why Ants Invade Jacksonville Homes And How To Keep Them Out

It's unlikely you aren't familiar with ants as they are one of the most common home-invading pests. Even so, you might not know exactly why and how they become an issue or what to do about them if they do. 

B&T Pest Control is here to share the info you should know, including the dangers ants pose to people. So if you want to learn about ants and pest control in Jacksonville, don't stop reading!

Common Species Of Home-Invading Ants In Jacksonville

Common types of ants we see infest Jacksonville properties and homes include:

• Acrobat ants
• Argentine ants
• Big-headed ants
• Carpenter ants
• Fire ants
• Ghost ants
• Little black ants
• Odorous house ants
• Pavement ants
• Pharaoh ants

While each species varies from the next, they can all become an issue in enormous numbers because ants are social insects living in big colonies with many individuals. 

The Problems Ants Can Cause In Your Home

The problems that occur during ant infestations depend on the species you are experiencing. Most of the common ones listed above or nuisance pests, so they don't pose any significant threat to people's health or property; still, their large numbers are enough to be a concern.

However, some species, like carpenter and fire ants, are problematic. Carpenter ants are wood-destroying pests, and while compared to termites, they are very different. Carpenter ants don't feed on wood; they create galleries inside it. In comparison, fire ants aren't much of an issue indoors, but their presence in your yard is cause for alarm alone. 

Fire ants are an invasive species and one of the most aggressive. They have a negative impact on the environments they invade and are very territorial, so they won't hesitate to swarm if disturbed. When this happens, fire ants will sting and bite. 

How And Why Ants Find Their Way Into Your Home

Any ant prevention tips you hear will likely echo the importance of removing food, moisture, and entry points. The reason for this is because these are the most attractive factors to this pest. 

Ants are small insects, so they don't need much space to squeeze into your home. They often use cracks in the foundation and exterior walls to get in or tree branches as highways to the roofline. The cause of an ant problem is usually accessible food sources.

Most home-invading ants are attracted to sugars, and we know that many, if not most, of the foods we eat contain sugar. Something as small as crumbs or residue in a sink can entice these insects.

Carpenter ants prefer decaying or water-damaged wood in your home. Another ant that you may find in your home is the sugar ant. These ants prefer to feed on crumbs, spilled liquids, and debris like other species. 

How To Interrupt An Ant Trail?

There isn’t much you can do to stop ants once they invade your home. Even if you spray them with a cleaning solution or place a book on their trail, they will find a way around it. One temporary solution involves killing existing ants and wiping down areas where a trail was using bleach or vinegar-based cleaning fluid; doing this will remove the invisible pheromone trail for a short time. It will not, however, stop these pests from coming back indoors. For this, you need some form of prevention.

Here are some simple DIY ant prevention strategies to start with:

• Seal your home’s exterior.
• Reduce food sources indoors.
• Make sure to seal your trash cans properly
• Eliminate sources of moisture build-up.

For more help with controlling these pests, you need some professional pest control ant treatment.

The Trick To Completely Getting Rid Of An Ant Infestation

If you have concerns about ants on your Jacksonville property, you can rely on B&T Pest Control for professional ant control solutions.

We offer several pest control plans to choose from depending on the unique circumstances you are experiencing. To determine what services will best suit your needs, we perform an in-depth inspection of the interior and exterior of your home. During the inspection, we identify what pests are active, where they are getting in, and what conditions invite them; figuring out how and why ants are invading is essential to successfully eliminate and prevent future infestations.

Contact B&T Pest Control today to learn more about our pest control services and how you can protect your home from ant problems!