Anyone living in Texas knows that ants are an abundant critter. You've probably come across them while walking on a sidewalk or maybe around your yard. Unfortunately, they might also get into your home, where they can be a big nuisance. Identifying the species is essential to get rid of an infestation efficiently and effectively. The following are common area species in Frisco:
Acrobat Ants:
- Are 2.5 to 4 mm long with light brown to black coloring
- They nest in deadwood
- Can contaminate food and emit an unpleasant odor
Carpenter Ants:
- One of the largest home-invading species in the area, varying in size up to 20mm depending on the role of the ant
- They are shiny black
- Chews through wood and builds nests causing extensive damage and can be a sign of extensive damage
Fire Ants:
- 3 to 5 mm in length and ranging in light to dark red
- Known to swarm and bit when threatened
Odorous House Ants:
- 3 mm in length and brown to black
- Cause food and surface contamination
- Omit a terrible smell when crushed
Rover Ants:
- ½ to 2 mm in size and pale yellow to blackish-brown
- Challenging to get rid of
- Can be a sign of a larger problem
Although some ant species are more dangerous than others, none are welcome in any Frisco home. You can prevent ant infestations from happening by understanding how and why ants get into homes in the first place.
How Ants Get Into Your Frisco Home
You can implement all of the exclusion techniques in the world, but if the ants still have a way in; they will keep coming. The following are places you should inspect as they are common entry points:
- Foundation Gaps: Although we would prefer them to be, foundations are not always airtight. Small gaps in the foundation provide spaces for ants to get through and into a home.
- Windows: Open windows and screens with holes provide easy access for ants to get inside.
- Doors: Like windows, ants get in through doorways if it is not properly sealed. Even if a door is used infrequently, you should maintain the weather stripping around it.
- Cracks In Walls: Cracks and seams provide a way for ants and other pests to get into your home.
- Utility Lines And Pumping: there are small holes around these lines and pipes where they come into a home.
Now that you know where to look for possible entry points, you need to consider why they are coming inside in the first place and how to stop this from happening.
How To Keep Ants From Your Frisco Home
Like other pests, ants seek food, water, and shelter, and people can unknowingly provide these resources to them. To make your home less attractive to ants, you should:
Step 1: Deep Clean
- Wipeout cupboards regularly
- Clean out your refrigerator, wiping it down, often
- Sweep and mop as often as possible and underneath heavy appliances regularly
Step 2: Eliminating Access To Food And Water
- Maintain proper food storage by keeping opened food in airtight containers
- Remove crumbs and spills immediately
- Store pet food properly and don't leave any out overnight
- Fix any leaking pipes or dripping faucets around your home and repair any water-damaged materials
If you do all of the above and are still struggling to get rid of ants, you should contact professionals for help. Experts can identify ant species, how they are getting in, and what is attracting them.
Who To Call For Ants In Your Frisco Home
The best form of ant control comes with professional assistance. If you live in Frisco, Texas, and are dealing with an ant infestation or want to prevent one from happening, contact the experts at Adams Exterminating Company. We have Home Pest Control Plans that target and control home pest invaders. Our trained technicians will eliminate the ants in your home and help you maintain an ant-free home. Call us today!