Ants may be small, but they can cause big problems in and around your Tallahassee area property. They infest buildings, build colonies, contaminate food, and bite or sting anyone who dares mess with them. Even if you keep your kitchen spotless, ant infestations are still possible. As soon as you get rid of one colony, here comes another.

If you try and take care of the problem yourself, the process can seem endless and take up much of your energy. Hiring a professional team is one of the most effective ways, both in time and money, to stomp out these ants.

What Happens When Ants Find a Food Source?

Ants send scouts away from the colony to look for food, and once found, these scouts signal their fellow ants to follow their trail and take back food to the colony. As long as there is a food source available, the ants will stick around and grow in number.

A food source could be as obvious as food left on the counter to something less visible, like a crumb underneath the stove or couch. Ants can make their way into your home through small cracks and crevices and via tree branches and vegetation that touches your home.

Is an Ant Infestation in Your Home Dangerous?

Some, but not all ant infestations can be dangerous. The types of ants you want to look out for are fire, red, and similar ants. Fire ants bite and cause itchy welts or painful marks on your skin. Red ants can sting multiple times, also leaving painful marks. But Carpenter ants (and similar types) don’t pose any harm.

Ants can also be a vector for spreading germs and bacteria. Constantly moving back and forth, indoors and back out, they track stuff wherever they go. This means that bacteria living on the ground or in your pipes can surface and spread if ants cross your food. Staphylococcus and salmonella are two types of bacteria that ants can spread.

So if you spot any ants in your home, take note of their appearance. With a quick online search, you can get a relative idea of what type of ant they are and how dangerous they are to people. But when you describe their appearance to an ant control expert, they’ll know exactly what the infesting ants are capable of and how dangerous they are.

How Can I Prevent Ants from Getting Into My Home?

When ants get inside your home, they can wreak havoc by causing damage or bites. Here are some general tips to prevent ants from getting into your home:

Keep your home clean of crumbs, spills, and overripe fruit.
Trim shrubs and tree branches, and make sure they don’t touch your home.
Reduce moisture by repairing leaky pipes and water damage.
Use dehumidifiers to dry out moisture-rich spaces like bathrooms and attics.
A kitchen is a perfect area for ants with the potential for crumbs, dog food left in bowls, penetrable food packaging, water, and food like fruit left out on tables and countertops. Make sure you keep your kitchen as clean as possible.
Hire ant exterminators.

The best prevention comes from ant control experts. Ant exterminators like Capelouto Termite & Pest Control have had 60 years of experience reducing ants in Tallahassee. We know why and how ants can get in your home. So let us help give you peace of mind!

Why Are Ants Inside My House? We Can Help You Find Out

Ants are most likely in your house because they found a food source. Despite how clean you keep your living spaces, ants are always on the lookout for places to settle and feed.

So don’t let ants get the best of you and your home! Capelouto Termite & Pest Control can reduce ant colonies and provide protection to prevent future infestations. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services for residents in Tallahassee.

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