Here's How Ant Infestations Start In Nashville Homes

When ants infest your home, you can’t let your guard down for a second. It can seem as though wherever there’s food, there’s a swarm of ants ready to gobble it down. Constantly worrying about ants in your home can be stressful, especially when you can’t stop the problem.

The best way to deal with ants is to stop an infestation from happening in the first place. So, to protect your property, you’ve got to know how ant infestations start in Nashville homes.

Types Of Ants In Nashville

Nashville is home to several house-invading species of ants. They aren’t the most hazardous pests to your health and wellbeing, but these ants are a nuisance, nonetheless.

Little black ants: These ants are indeed little, measuring between 1/25 and 1/16 inch in length. But they have strength in numbers. When little black ants find a food source in your home, they can amass by the hundreds, making the infestation feel overwhelming.

Carpenter ants: Larger than most other pest ants, carpenter ants can be anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 inch in length. These industrious ants build their homes in damaged wood and can establish multiple colonies in a small area.

Odorous house ants: Black in coloration and measuring about 1/8 inch, these ants aren’t dangerous, but they are offensively smelly when crushed. The stench of a smushed odorous house ant is said to resemble bleu cheese.

Fire ants: Fire ants are trouble. They are aggressive and will attack anything that trespasses into their territory, which can easily cover an area the size of your backyard. Fire ants prefer to nest outdoors but will venture inside for food and water.

Why Ants Are Attracted To Your Home

Ants are always after their next meal. Scout ants will explore the territory around their colony for viable food sources and will quickly send for reinforcements once the food has been located. It doesn’t take much, but something as simple as an open box of cookies in your pantry or a sugary spill on the kitchen table can provoke a full-on ant invasion.

Ants have two main advantages when it comes to getting into your home: their size and their persistence. If there’s an opening that they can squeeze through, ants will find it, no matter how small.

How To Prevent An Ant Infestation

Thankfully, there are some tried-and-true methods of preventing ants from infesting your home. By following some basic daily sanitation practices and performing a few simple repairs, you can dramatically reduce your risk of getting ants:

Take out the trash. Dispose of trash regularly and don’t let garbage build up indoors. Keep lids on all trash bins indoors and try to place trash receptacles at least ten feet from your house outdoors.
Clean up. Make sure that all food scraps, crumbs, and spills are cleaned up. Wipe down the surfaces where you eat and prepare food after use and be sure to mop and sweep regularly as well.
Use storage containers. Don’t leave pantry items unprotected. Store any food in your cupboards in sturdy plastic, metal, or glass containers with tight-fitting lids to prevent ants and other small pests from snacking on them.
Seal entrance points. Check around the exterior of your property for any gaps or openings where ants can get in, especially around your foundation and pipes, and repair with caulk. Consider replacing weather stripping or door sweeps if damaged.

If you’ve already got an ant infestation on your Nashville property, the problem can be difficult to handle on your own. That’s why you need the experts at Urbanex. With family-friendly pest control services tailored to your unique needs, we’ll eliminate your ants and prevent future infestations from developing. So, if you’re ready to get rid of the ants in your home, contact us today to request your free inspection.

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