Every summer, many Lewisville residents go through the motions of summer vacations, careful lawn maintenance, family visits, and potential pest threats. Often, the last one seems to catch many homeowners off guard. When it comes to proper pest control, it’s common to overlook summer pests. Here in Lewisville, we have plenty of pest pressures to worry about, including the pressures brought on by ants. Typically, the ant species we find here are fire ants, odorous house ants, and carpenter ants.
Problems Ants Cause
As with any part of Texas, Lewisville happens to get quite warm during the summer. Since Texas weather remains fairly mild throughout the year, many species of ants are a threat all year long. However, the warmer temperatures brought on by summer encourage higher ant activity. With this increased activity outside, ants invade homes quicker and more often. Depending on the species of ant infestation you are facing this year, you may find that different problems occur on your Lewisville property. For example, carpenter ants invade homes to create large nesting galleries and long tunnels for their colonies. This can create stress on the structure of your property and may lead to costly repairs in the future. On the other hand, ant species such as odorous house ants and fire ants typically invade purely for sources of food. If these ants contaminate your stored goods, counters, and tables, there's a chance you could come into contact with bacteria that causes dangerous diseases.
How to Protect Your Home From Ant Infestations
When your home has yet to be attacked by annoying or harmful pests, one of the most beneficial things you can do is follow a few ant-prevention steps. While these steps are not guaranteed to work, they can give you the first line of defense against the problems ants create. Some prevention steps to consider include:
- Storing food items in airtight containers instead of plastic bags or paper boxes.
- Keeping your lawn maintained by trimming tree branches, cutting grass, and pulling weeds.
- Sealing all exterior gaps, crevices, and cracks with a caulking gun. Ants are small, therefore they can fit into even the tiniest of gaps and cracks.
- Keeping your trash can sealed.
- Cleaning your counters and floors on a regular basis.
- Storing pet food in plastic containers.
- Calling a professional.
Even when you follow these prevention steps, there is still a chance ants will get into your Lewisville home. Click here if you are looking for a Plano exterminator. Once inside, ant infestations are incredibly difficult to handle without professional help. Even when you get rid of the ants you see crawling around, there will always be more. Ants leave behind pheromones that allow other ants to follow their trail, often right to a food source. When it comes to ant infestations, the only way to get rid of them is to eliminate the source. With a little help from the pest professionals here at Adams Exterminating Company, you can do just that. Our pest experts have the skills and know how to track your ant problems to the source. Get the pest protection you need when you reach out to Adams today!