Ant Identification & Prevention

What are ants?

The hot, humid weather in Texas allows many insects and other pests to be a year-round threat. The ant is an example of a pest that regularly makes itself at home near people, using our yards and homes as a place to nest or forage for food.

Ants are social insects that work together very efficiently to forage for food, care for their young, and protect and maintain the nest. If their nesting site is ever disturbed, they will work together to create a new nesting site to ensure the colony survives.

The ant’s ability to work as a team is what makes these tiny insects so difficult to prevent and tricky to get rid of once they find their way to our yards and homes.

Are ants dangerous?

Ants are mainly nuisance pests, but that does not mean you should ignore their presence in and around your homes. Having ants trailing through your house is problematic for many reasons, including the fact that they will spread bacteria over surfaces, contaminate food, and their constant presence can drive anyone crazy. When our kitchen or bathroom counters are covered in trails of ants, it is hard to feel comfortable in your house — a place that should be a relaxing sanctuary.

Some ant species are more problematic than others and considered dangerous pests. Dangerous ants cause structural damage (carpenter ants), bite or sting people (fire ants), or spread dangerous pathogens (pharaoh ants).

Why do I have an ant problem?

While many different species of ants live throughout Texas, they are all on our properties for the same reason. Our yards and homes offer them multiple areas to nest, access to various food sources, and the water sources they need to survive.

Once ants invade a space, they won’t leave until starved out or forced to leave through effective ant treatments performed by a professional.  Ants most likely to become a problem on our Texas properties include:

• Acrobat ants
• Carpenter ants
• Fire ants
• Leafcutter ants
• Pharaoh ants

Where will I find ants?

Ants are attracted to food odors and can find their way into any of our homes while out foraging for food. Things like open trash cans, pet food, and food prep or eating areas attract ant activity. They move into our homes through spaces they discover in the foundation, around wires entering your home, or through damaged wood trim or windows and doors.

Once inside our homes, ants forage for their basic needs in kitchens and bathrooms, trailing over floors, counters, and tables. If your home meets their needs, they may decide to stay and create a satellite nest to help expand their colony. Indoor nesting sites are built behind walls, under floors, within electrical equipment, and behind cabinets.

How do I get rid of ants?

Getting rid of ants is not an easy job. Solve your property’s ant problems the easy way by partnering with us at Gold Star Exterminators. Whether ants have already moved onto your property or you want to put in place preventative measures, we can help! Our professionals are committed to our customers and deliver prompt home pest control services that are reasonably priced.

We have what you need to rid your Texas property of ants and other household pests, from our one-time service to regularly scheduled year-round services. To learn more about our year-round pest services and determine which plan is the best option for you and your property, give Gold Star Exterminators a call today!

How can I prevent ants in the future?

Take advantage of the following tips to help stop ants from taking over your Texas property.

• Take the time to pull out and deep clean under and behind your home’s large appliances to remove crumbs and other food debris.
• Maintain a clean kitchen and properly store your food; never leave food out on tables or counters.
• Regularly remove garbage from indoor trash cans and place it outside in containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Store trash cans and woodpiles away from your home’s exterior walls.
• Take away entry points by installing door sweeps, repairing cracks in the foundation, and using steel wool or another material to seal spaces around wires entering your home.

Helpful Ant Articles

• The Secret To Effective Ant Control For New Braunfels Properties