HOW TO KEEP ANTS AWAY BUCKS COUNTY, PA
Posted by Admin
Pests may invade homes and businesses around Bucks County in any season. One of the most common of these pests is the ant.
While ants significantly outnumber humans, with estimates suggesting that there may be as many as a million trillion of them, this does not mean that people have to allow these pests to make themselves at home.
Instead, it's sensible for home and business owners to take action when they suspect that an ant infestation is underway. Even better, property owners may want to take steps to ensure that ants can't get inside in the first place.
Keep reading to find strategies for protecting your home from six-legged invaders and what to do if these pests are already infesting your property.
WHAT STOPS ANTS FROM COMING IN?
Ants are a particularly determined species when it comes to locating food and shelter. They will wander far and wide in search of a food source, and even the tiniest crumb may be enough to attract them.
Perhaps the best measure to take when it comes to stopping ants from coming in is to identify all points of access that ants might use. As you do this, keep in mind that ants are tiny. They can use the smallest of cracks or holes in the exterior of a building to gain entrance.
Use caulk to seal up window and door frames as well as cracks in the home's foundation. Other possible sealing materials include plaster, glue and putty.
If you believe that ants have already made it to the interior of your house, then you may need to do a bit of detective work to figure out the point at which they are entering the structure. Follow the line of ants to find the hole that they are using, and then seal it.
Also, if you already have ants indoors, then it is essential that the pheromone trails that these pests leave behind be obliterated. It is possible that the ants have created more than one scent trail to lead their compatriots to the food. Accordingly, it is wise to scrub down all surfaces in the kitchen with a mixture of vinegar and water.
HOW DO I GET RID OF ANTS IN MY OFFICE?
Home isn't the only place that Bucks County residents need to worry about ants. These pests are just as likely to make their way into offices and other places of business.
Frequently, this is because offices have kitchens just like homes do. Just like at home, it is essential to take precautions in the kitchen to discourage pest activity. One of the most important things that people can do to help get rid of ants in the office, or to help keep them away in the first place, is to keep all surfaces clean and free of spills and crumbs.
This means that any spills or crumbs must be quickly and thoroughly cleaned up. Not only does this rule apply to the office kitchen but also to all desks and work areas where food might be consumed.
Moreover, it's smart to keep food in glass or metal containers with tight-fitting lids. This type of container is impossible for ants to penetrate, and these receptacles also do a pretty good job of containing food odors that might attract ants.
Just like at home, it makes sense not to let dirty dishes pile up in the office kitchen. Ants love dirty dishes, so make sure that these are immediately washed or that they go straight into the dishwasher.
HOW DO YOU KEEP SMALL BLACK ANTS AWAY?
Little black ants are numerous and tiny. Despite their size, their numbers ensure that they can become an outsized headache for home and business owners in Bucks County. What can you do against such a tiny and seemingly elusive foe?
Small black ants are a lot like many of the other ant species that are commonly found in the local area. Typically, they are attracted to people's homes and offices by the scent of food. This means that it's essential that you take steps to prevent them from gaining access, like sealing up all holes and cracks in building exteriors with caulk.
Another step you can take is to be on the lookout for scout ants. If you see a single ant on your kitchen counter or floor, don't hesitate to kill it. That single ant is probably a scout for the colony, which may have thousands or even millions of members.
Wherever a scout ant travels, masses of ants are certain to follow, especially if the scout ant is successful in finding a food source. However, if you successfully find and kill a scout ant, then they may not have an opportunity to create a scent trail that would lead their colony mates to your door.
Of course, it's vital to realize that you may not have caught all of the scout ants. This means that you may soon have a considerable problem with small black ants in your Bucks County kitchen.
When ant infestations are underway, the smartest move is to contact a professional exterminator immediately.
WHAT IS THE BEST HOMEMADE ANT KILLER?
This is the question that a lot of homeowners ask. They've noticed a line of ants on their kitchen counter, and they want the problem gone – yesterday! Frantically, they do an online search for the best homemade ant killer.
Thousands of results pop up, but which one will actually work? It's a gamble.
This is because of the differences in the ant species that you'll encounter in Bucks County. A homemade remedy may work on one species but not another. Do you know for certain which species is invading your home?
Additionally, there are no guarantees with homemade ant killers. You're totally on your own, and if the treatment that you try fails, it gives the ants a chance to become even more firmly established.
Some homeowners have had success with a mixture of three tablespoons of Borax, a half cup of sugar and just enough water to make a syrup-like solution. The sugar and water attract the ants, which eat the solution. The ingested Borax eventually kills them.
However, the problem with this homemade ant killer and others like it is that it's treating a symptom rather than providing a cure. The ants are still getting in your house, and not all of them will be immediately attracted to the homemade pesticide.
Instead, it makes sense to take a multi-pronged approach to getting rid of ants, one that includes efforts by a pest management professional to destroy the colony.
WILL ANTS GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN?
This is the fervent hope of many Bucks County homeowners, but it just doesn't work that way. Once ants discover a way inside and a food source, they will continue to exploit it for as long as they are able.
If the ants exhaust the crumbs on the counter, scouts will look for more food in the cupboards or the pantry. They'll find it with ease, and they'll see no reason to look farther afield for their next meal.
Once established, an ant infestation must be eliminated by closing up access points, keeping surfaces clean, properly storing food and immediately putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
More than these steps, it is critical for homeowners to ask for the assistance of qualified pest management professionals who can identify additional vulnerabilities in the building's exterior and quickly and safely eliminate the troublesome ant colony.
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