Ants are not complicated pests. Or are they? They crawl through our homes in lines and steal our food. They build intricate social nests outdoors to house their colonies. They even have a queen that dictates everything they do. But these things are not accurate to all species of ants. To help you better understand the many issues ants can cause around Jacksonville properties, here are some things you should know.
Common Ants That Invade Jacksonville Homes
When it comes to how to identify ants, it is important that you first know which ants are most common in Jacksonville. Four species we think you should know about are carpenter ants, fire ants, big-headed ants, and pharaoh ants. Here is how to identify each of these pests and what problems they can cause in and around homes. Later we will tell you how to get rid of ants from your Jacksonville home.
- Carpenter ants are ⅝” long, have red, black, or red and black bodies, and larger heads and mandibles. These invasive insects cause trouble by chewing their nests into the structural wood of homes and invading living areas to scavenge for food and moisture.
- Fire ants are ⅛ to ⅜” long and are dark reddish-brown. These pests do not invade homes frequently but build sprawling colonies around yards and threaten people with their bites and stings
- Big-headed ants are ⅛ to ¼” long and are reddish-brown. These pests cause damage to plant growth around yards and will invade and damage house plants from time to time.
- Pharaoh ants are 1/16” long and have pale yellow bodies. These pests build nests both around and inside homes and are known for spreading harmful diseases like staphylococcus and salmonellosis.
Why Ants Are Taking Over Your Jacksonville Home
Without proper ant pest control, it is hard to make sure ants do not take over your Jacksonville home. Two questions we are regularly asked are: where do ants come from, and why do they like invading homes? Most species of ants in our area build their nests on properties and send scouts out to search for food. These scouts can find their way indoors through gaps, cracks, and other openings and then leave pheromone trails back to their colony to lead more workers to the food source. If it is particularly hot, cold, or stormy outdoors, some species of ants will look to homes as places to stay safe and will then build their nests indoors. This is when you will start finding these pests inside almost every day.
How To Quickly Get Rid Of Ants In Jacksonville
When it comes to “how to get rid of ants,” you only have one reliable option, and that is to hire an ant pest control professional. At Trad’s Pest Control, we work hard to make sure our ant control solutions are designed to fit our clients’ individual needs. From detailed inspections to fast-working treatments, we have everything you need to find freedom from these invasive insects.
Keep Ants From Coming Back To Your Jacksonville Home
After you have implemented ant control solutions inside your home to remove these pests, your next step is to put in place prevention steps to keep them out. This could involve sealing gaps, cracks, and other openings, addressing moisture issues, eliminating food sources, keeping up with your landscaping, storing food properly, investing in quality trash cans, and keeping your living areas as clean as possible, or you could hire a professional. At Trad’s pest Control, we offer long-term options to help Jacksonville homeowners like you keep pests out of living areas year-round.
Call today to find out more about our comprehensive options.