Preventing and Treating an Ant Problem in Denver
Ants can easily infiltrate your house through the tiniest openings, causing serious damage and even unsanitary conditions. Thankfully, you can take steps to prevent ants from infesting your house and treat a current infestation. if you spot a few ants marching on the floor, this means a colony has been set up nearby. Eliminating ants successfully involves more than just killing the visible worker ants. A lot of ants are left in the colony to protect their queen. Professional pest control involves attacking the ant nest or colony itself to solve an infestation.
Common Kinds of Ants in Denver
Denver is home to different ant species. Each species has unique characteristics; however, they all can become a nuisance once they infest your house. Carpenter ants are the biggest species of ants in Denver. They are especially abundant in forested areas. They can destroy your home’s wooden structures and create nests in them, damaging door frames, subfloors, posts, and doors.
In addition, odorous ants are present in the city. These tiny black species build nests in basements and crawl spaces. Pharaoh ants live behind baseboards, in voids within walls, and underneath the floor. They eat protein, sweets, and oils. Other ant species in Denver include pavement ants, fire ants, field ants, and more. Whatever ants you might have in your house, take action right away to prevent the issue from escalating.
Preventing an Ant Infestation
To prevent any species of ants from infesting your home, here are steps you can take:
- Eliminate food sources. Ants are drawn to your house as they look for sources of food and water. To prevent them from infesting your home, ensure your dining areas and kitchen are free of food crumbs and spills. Never leave food out on your counters. Wipe down surfaces and sweep the floors after every meal. Also, fix plumbing leaks immediately as water can also draw ants.
- Close off entry points. To ensure ants cannot enter your house, close off all small openings that they can use as pathways. Ants can get through tiny cracks and gaps in walls, doors, floors, and windows. Check your house for possible entry points and close them off with weather stripping or caulk. Also, always keep the doors closed. Consider using door sweeps or thresholds, so ants cannot sneak under the floor.
- Store your food properly. Food should be kept in airtight containers to reduce odor or moisture that can draw ants and other pests. This applies especially to pantry items like sugar, pet food, cereal, and flour.
- Keep the garden clean. Ants can be an issue in outdoor areas like the patio or garden. To prevent them from setting up camp in the yard, keep this area clean and tidy. Get rid of clutter and debris and trim your trees and plants regularly. Also, do not leave pet food or food waste outside because ants can attack this as they search for food.
Treating an Active Infestation
If you have confirmed the presence of ants in your house, apply treatment. insecticides and ant baits are great options. But if you have a bigger ant infestation, let a pest removal expert handle the problem for you.