How Ants Find Their Way Into Chesapeake Homes And How To Keep Them Out

When you get into your car to travel to a new destination, you program the route into your GPS. The reason we use our GPS systems is to show us the way to where we want to go. The first time you navigate to the new spot, you nervously follow the guidance system, but once you've driven the route, it is no longer a mystery, and you can return without needing additional help. 

Thousands of ants fill the lawn surrounding our cozy homes. We don't mind ants in our yards because they keep the ecosystem in balance. However, sometimes they find ways into our homes, and before long, there are lines of ants traveling along our baseboards or random ants dashing across countertops. 

If you have ants in your home, you need pest control in Chesapeake from Hawk Mosquito & Pest. Owned and operated by a local firefighter, our company understands the need to act when faced with a pest problem. Because we are not a big-box operation run by a corporation in a distant state, we can provide our community with budget-friendly pest control services. 

You probably found this article because ants are inside your house, and you have questions. You may be asking: how did the ants get into my home, why they are there, are they dangerous, and what can I do to remove them? Keep reading because we will answer those questions and give you the information you need to know to stop the ant invasion in your Chesapeake house.

Types Of Ants Common To The Area

There are hundreds of ant species in the United States, and many reside in our state; however, most are not problematic for homeowners, but the following is a list of the ants that require ant control in Chesapeake:

• Argentine ants
• Carpenter ants
• Fire ants
• Odorous house ants
• Pavement ants
• Pharaoh ants
• Thief ants

To help you identify the ants in your house, we will briefly describe each of these types of ants. 

Argentine ants have a dark brown or black shiny body about 1/16 of an inch long.. Like most ant species, these ants prefer to live in moist areas around water pipes, sinks, and potted plants. Carpenter ants also like damp locations, specifically any fungus-ridden wood. These ants have a large black or red or black and red 5/8-inch body. Moist wood allures them because they use their powerful mandibles to bore smooth tunnels deep into the wood to create nesting areas. 

One ant that does not dwell in moist areas is the red imported fire ant. These ants typically build large nests with a flat top two to four feet in diameter next to structures in the yard. The size of these reddish-brown stinging ants ranges from 1/8 to 3/8 inches. Although they usually live outdoors, they occasionally migrate into Chesapeake homes through HVAC systems for food and water. 

Odorous house ants are common invaders of homes throughout the country. These black or brown ants have a 1/16 to 1/8-inch body and are so-called because they emit a rotten coconut smell when crushed. Like other ants on our list, they prefer to live in moist areas around water heaters, near leaking plumbing fixtures, and in wall voids.

You probably see pavement ants if you see blackish 1/8-inch ants in the cracks on your sidewalk, driveway, or masonry walls. When they enter Chesapeake homes, they live in walls, under floors, and insulation. 

Instead of the typical dark brown, red, or black bodies, pharaoh ants stand out because they have a pale and yellowish 1/16-inch body. When they enter Chesapeake homes, they find refuge in warm, humid locations under floors, furniture, and wall voids. 

Although they may have a pale yellowish body, thief ants may also sport a light to dark brown unevenly rounded 1/16-inch body. Once inside a home, thief ants travel along wiring inside walls from room to room. Also known as grease ants because of their appetite for greasy protein-rich foods, they create nests in cracks in woodwork and masonry.

When you see trails or groups of these ants in your house, you need the ant control service near your home from Hawk Mosquito & Pest. We have the knowledge and the tools to stop whatever ant species is invading your home.

The Risks And Health Concerns Of Ants In The House

Ants are insects with six legs, two antennae, compound eyes, and a three-part body consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen. Although it is difficult to see, ants have a claw on the end of each leg for traction as they travel over surfaces. As ants walk over unsanitary items and through polluted areas, bacteria on the surfaces stick to their tiny foot claws. When they travel through Chesapeake homes, the bacteria transfers to items in the house and contaminates them. Get rid of ants in your home to keep them from polluting surfaces. 

In addition to contaminating surfaces and being a nuisance, some ants can cause additional health problems. Because of their attraction to open wounds, pharaoh ants spread salmonellosis, staphylococcus, clostridium, and streptococcus. These ants are more problematic for medical facilities but are occasional invaders of Chesapeake homes. 

The ant species that threaten the health of many Chesapeake homeowners is the red imported fire ant. These aggressive ants quickly attack anything that disturbs their nest. When they attack, they bite to anchor themselves, sting the victim multiple times and inject venom. The venom triggers histamines in the body and creates painful, itchy, fluid-filled blisters. Severe allergic reactions occur in some people from the immune system becoming overwhelmed by the volume of venom.

Although a bite from a carpenter ant is painful, the main risk from these ants is the structural damage they can cause. Carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites, but unlike most ants that construct ants in the soil, these ants bore smooth tunnels inside damp wood. Long-term carpenter ant infestation results in weakened timbers in the house that may cause window and door frames to warp and floors to sag. 

When ants are in your house, you need pest control ant treatment from Hawk Mosquito & Pest. We will protect your family from painful ant stings, contamination, and disease spread; we keep your house from experiencing structural damage from carpenter ants. 

Why And How Ants Find Their Way Into Our Homes

Ants are comfortable living outside underneath stones, logs, leaf clutter, and other items. Many create mounds above ground with intricate, sometimes deep tunnels beneath the soil. However, when heavy rains occur or when there are long, dry periods, ants sometimes enter homes looking for food, water, or shelter. 

Ants are omnivores that eat protein, fat, and carbohydrates, and if foodstuffs containing these macronutrients are readily available inside a house, ants will enter. Also, if ants sense moist air emanating from a home crawl space or basement, they will try to move inside, especially during dry seasons. Ants communicate through the use of pheromones. Argentine and other ants deposit pheromones to and from food and water sources; other ants detect the chemical trails and follow them into the home. 

After Hawk Mosquito & Pest remove the ants from your Chesapeake home, implement these ant prevention tips to keep them out:

• Prune tree and shrub branches away from the house
• Elevate firewood stacks and move them 20 feet from the house
• Remove clutter from the yard
• Eliminate lawn items that collect and hold water
• Repair leaking plumbing fixtures
• Dehumidify the crawl space, basement, and attic
• Seal cracks in the foundation and along the roofline with caulk
• Fix holes in window and door screens
• Install door sweeps under exterior doors
• Keep indoor and outdoor garbage containers closed
• Wipe down cooking and eating surfaces after meals
• Sweep the house regularly
• Suction corners and cracks along the floor and in corners

Maintaining a clean, dry interior and exterior will deter ants from overrunning your yard and invading your house. When a Hawk Mosquito & Pest technician inspects your home, they can provide additional ant control solutions for your location.

The Secret to Total Ant Control For Chesapeake Homes

Hawk Mosquito & Pest provides the best pest control near you for ants. When you partner with us, we investigate the interior and exterior to determine entry points, attractants, hot spots, and the ant species infesting your house. 

Using our knowledge and experience, we create a strategic plan using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods. This approach targets the cause, the specific species, and prevention. Because it is a laser-focused approach, it necessitates the judicious use of treatments. Because we share your concern for the environment, we offer eco-friendly options to swiftly and efficiently remove ants so they won't continue to contaminate items in your house.

As a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company that is a HomeAdvisor Elite Service provider, you can rest assured that you will receive swift, high-quality, and efficient service. Contact us today to learn about our ant pest control treatments and our 100% satisfaction guarantee, and get a free quote.