Do you think that ants live up to the name pest? We do. Out of all the insects in the animal kingdom, ants are some of the most annoying. They ruin picnics, disrupt cookouts, stomp their way through homes whenever they want, and steal whatever food they can get their tiny feet on, all in all, ants are the best example of a pest that there is. If you are tired of ants in and around your New Jersey property, we have some practical ant-prevention tips you can use to stop them.
Common Ants Around New Jersey
New Jersey is home to a wide variety of ant species. We have large red and black carpenter ants, small light brown to black pavement ants, tiny yellow Pharaoh ants, unevenly shaped odorous house ants, and many more. Some species of ants are known for causing a little more trouble than others. For instance, carpenter ants build their nests by hollowing out the wood of homes. As you can imagine, this can be extremely destructive and costly to fix. On the other hand, there are Pharaoh ants that can pick up and spread dangerous diseases such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and clostridium. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what type of ant is causing trouble inside your home, all ants can contaminate food, meaning that none are welcome.
What Factors Attract Ants?
Different ants are drawn to your home for different reasons. Carpenter ants are drawn in by wood that has been softened by water damage or rot that can be easily tunneled through. Most other ants are drawn into homes by food and drink. When it comes to where they find these two necessities around homes, the options are endless. Your trash can is their buffet, the muffin crumbs under your couch are their evening snack, and the puddle of sticky soda under your fridge is their energy drink to keep them going. If there is even a speck of food or drink in your home, ants will find it.
How To Reduce Factors That Attract Ants
When it comes to keeping ants out of your home, cleanliness and proper storage are fundamental. More specifically, the fewer food and drinks ants have access to, the less likely they will be to stick around if they get inside. Here are some prevention tips our experts recommend:
- Thoroughly clean your home. Do not neglect to get beneath large appliances and furniture.
- Clean up messes as they happen.
- Limit the number of rooms in your home where you eat to just one or two.
- After eating, store leftover foods inside airtight containers.
- Make sure your trashcans have tight-fitting lids.
- If you have pets, pick up and clean out their food and water bowls before going to bed at night.
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures around your home.
- Make sure your gutters are working properly to channel water away from your home and protect your walls from becoming water-damaged.
How To Seal Up Your Home From Ants
Another great thing you can do to keep ants out of your home is to make sure it is properly sealed. Here are some great ways you can do this:
- Purchase a caulking gun and use it to seal up gaps and cracks in your home’s foundation.
- Use the same caulking gun to fill in space around window and door frames.
- Make sure the weather stripping around your home is in good condition.
- Check window and door screens and make sure they are rip- and tear-free.
- For carpenter ants, make sure none of your home’s wood has been affected by water damage or rot, and repair or replace any wood you find that is in this condition.
For an extra layer of protection, let the professionals here at Heritage Pest Control help. We can thoroughly inspect your home and implement treatments designed to keep all varieties of ants away.
Give us a call today to find out more about our ant control, or to schedule your New Jersey home for a service visit.