Trust the Ant Control Experts From Smash Pest Control To Eliminate Your Ant Infestation
Ants are often underestimated on account of their tiny stature, but they can be a major nuisance for your home or business. From contaminated food to painful stings, these persistent pests can quickly turn your life upside down. Whether you’re dealing with aggressive fire ants or destructive carpenter ants, you can count on the experienced technicians from Smash Pest Control for reliable ant control services.
Too often a do-it-yourselfer’s first response is to spray when dealing with ants, but this can actually be the exact wrong thing to do and can lead to disaster. Identifying the type of ant is essential to understanding what type of measures should be taken to control them. Tennessee is home to many ant species, but the most common are the Odorous House Ant, Pharaoh Ant, Black Carpenter Ant, Pavement Ant, Acrobat Ant, Crazy Ant, and many more.
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Ants and Termites?
Telling ants apart from termites can be tough, but there are two easy ways to identify the pest in question – their waists and antennae. Ants have a narrow waist that separates their upper body and abdomen, and their antennae are bent. Termites lack a visible waist and their antennae are straight.
Both pests may have wings depending on their role in their respective colonies, but ant wings are different sizes while termite wings are uniform.
Do Ants Bite or Sting?
While both bites and stings are possible from ants, the difference lies in who delivers them. All ants can bite, using their tiny mandible to pinch your skin. Bites usually cause mild, localized discomfort like a small red welt. But only female ants have stingers, capable of injecting venom that can trigger a wider range of reactions. These stings often pack more punch which leads to pain, swelling, and even allergic reactions in some individuals. Fire ants have gained quite a bit of notoriety for their potent and painful stings.
What Are Some Signs That I Have an Ant Infestation?
Ants are another pest that likes to announce their arrival. Keep an eye out for the following signs of an ant infestation:
- You see individual ants around your property. It’s not unusual to see a stray ant every now and then. However, frequent sightings or large numbers of ants could potentially point to an infestation.
- There are trails of ants. Ant trails – especially marching to and from a particular location – are a key indication that there is an established colony in the vicinity.
- A sudden appearance of flying ants. Similar to termites, ants take to the sky when their colony matures to the point that they’re ready to spread. Flying ants are actively looking for new areas to nest and your property could be vulnerable.
- You stumble onto a nest. When you’ve noticed an uptick in ant activity, be on the lookout for small piles of dirt or wood shavings near baseboards, under sinks, or around foundations – these could be ant nests.
- There is new wood damage. Wood damage isn’t exclusive to termites. Some species of ants, like carpenter ants, borough through wood to build their colonies.
- Destroyed food packaging. Anytime you find holes or punctures in food packaging, it strongly points to some type of pest infestation. Ants might be the culprit.
What Is the Best Time of Year To Treat for Ants?
Fall is the prime time to get ahead and take a proactive approach to ant control in Middle Tennessee. Temperatures cool and food sources start to dwindle outdoors, so ants will head indoors to find food, water, and shelter. The most effective form of pest control is preventive – it’s best to treat ants before they have the chance to establish themselves inside your property.
If it’s too late and ants have invaded your space, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. You can count on Smash Pest Control for ant control no matter what time of year it is.
How Do I Prevent Ants From Coming Back After Treatment?
Dealing with a pest infestation can leave you feeling unsettled. Even after you’ve successfully eliminated the problem, anxiety can linger as you worry about the possibility of a re-infestation. As a group, ants are the most difficult household pests to control. In a survey, pest technicians indicated that they get more callbacks due to ants than any other insect.
We have some tips to help you avoid another bout of ant problems:
- Keep your property clean. Keep your home or business clean of food crumbs and spills. If you drop some food or knock over a drink, wipe it up quickly. Pay special attention to the kitchen and dining areas where food particles can be missed.
- Store food the right way. Use airtight containers or sealed bags to preserve food and keep ants away.
- Don’t leave pet food out. Pet food is an easy source of food for a lot of pests. Clean up the leftovers once your fur buddy is done chowing down.
- Secure your garbage bins. Ants are great climbers. The food scraps we toss into the trash are practically a night out at a fancy restaurant for them. Get garbage bins with lids that can be tightly secured.
- Eliminate sources of water. Ants need water to survive. Schedule repairs to resolve leaky faucets, pipes, and roofs. Address moisture concerns in basements and crawl spaces.
- Seal entry points. Ants can get in through cracks, gaps, as well openings around doors, windows, pipes, and utility lines. We offer animal exclusion services to help keep ants at bay.
- Schedule annual pest inspections. Be sure to book a yearly checkup to monitor pest activity and close up new access points.
Get Rid of Ants Permanently
With our expert team and personalized approach, you can trust Smash Pest Control to take care of your ant control needs. We’re here for you whether it’s time for your annual inspection or you’re in the throes of a full-blown ant infestation. Reach out to us at 615-551-4029 or request your free quote online.
Trust our Pest Guide to tell you what you need to know about bed bugs in your home or business.