If you were lucky enough to avoid ants in your house this winter, be careful because spring is just around the corner! As the weather changes and it gets warmer, New Rochelle will be home to millions of emerging ants! Our area is known to be home to several types of ants, some of the more prominent kinds being odorous house ants, pavement ants, carpenter ants, and pharaoh ants. With each type of ant bringing its own problems, professional ant control is something that all homeowners should consider. Here is a closer look at the different ants located in New Rochelle, the problems they cause, and what you can do about them!
Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants stink, hence the name! When squished, the odorous house ant emits a foul stench (Sometimes related to the smell of rotting coconut). Usually colored in between brown and black, the odorous house ant is commonly found inside homes foraging for food. Odorous house ants are generally in between 1/16” and 1/8” in length.
Pavement Ants
Similar in size to the odorous house ant, pavement ants also are commonly found seeking out food inside our homes. These ants will build colonies within the cracks and crevices of pavement and can easily find their way inside through cracks in foundations that oftentimes might go unnoticed.
Carpenter Ants
While many ants are a nuisance more than anything, the carpenter ant is much, much more! These destructive ants can chew through the wood in your home at an extremely rapid rate. If unnoticed, and oftentimes they are, carpenter ants will do damage to the extent of weakening the structure of your home! It is extremely important that you get these ants out as quickly as possible! Carpenter ants can usually be identified due to their size. At up to a 1/2” long, the carpenter ant can be double the size of the other ants.
Pharaoh Ants
Quite possibly one of the most dangerous ants, pharaoh ants are not only known to carry and transmit harmful pathogens, but they can also enter wounds and IV lines, elevating their threat level. At 1/16” in length or smaller, pharaoh ants can enter through the tiniest of spaces as well as hide in them. They are light yellow to reddish-brown in color and build nests as an extension of their colony. These nests can often be found inside homes and buildings.
With their small size, large numbers, and the never-ending variety of locations you might find them, taking care of ants will usually require professional help. Here are a few useful ant prevention tips that can help.
- Remove standing water (leaking pipes, puddles, buckets)
- Fix leaks to alleviate moisture damage (pipes, around windows and doors)
- Keep gutters clean and clear to avoid debris build-up and water damage
- Seal up cracks and crevices in foundations
- Keep wood stored away from the house and shrubs cut back so they are not touching it
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors
- Keep food stored in tight-fitting lids
- Always clean up spills and messes quickly and thoroughly
A crucial step in taking care of an ant infestation is identifying it. Our pest professionals will do exactly that, and during the process, will assess any damage that may have already been done to your home. Identifying both the ant species you're dealing with and any problems the ants have caused or will cause allows us to treat your infestation quickly, effectively, and safely. Our ant control is offered as a year-round service, which means once we treat for ants, we will come back periodically to check our work. That way, you will not have to worry about ants and other common pests invading your home throughout the year.
With our year-round pest control services in New Rochelle, we also extensively focus on both the entirety of the outside and the inside of your home. With two protection packages to choose from, you can decide which package best satisfies your pest control needs! To make it easy and efficient, we offer a free quote and same-day service. If you have ants, call Parkway Pest Services today and let us help you keep your New Rochelle home free of ants this spring!