Ant control in Los Angeles is an important component to local pest control. We’ve got more than our fair share of ants here in California, and it can sometimes seem like all of them are bent on living in our houses with us. But we don’t have to take ant invasions lying down. Learn more about these pests with the help of Leaf Pest Management.
How Can I Tell What Types Of Ants Are In My House?
Sometimes, identifying ants is easy. For example, if you crush an ant and it releases a rotten coconut smell, you know you’ve just encountered an odorous house ant. Carpenter ants are also super easy to identify because they are larger than other ants and have large mandibles for tunneling through wood.
However, many other ant species are not so readily distinguishable. Many of them look alike, and they’re all tiny. So unless you have a magnifying glass, it can be really difficult to spot the subtle differences between different ant species. This is why it’s usually best to rely on the ant control experts here at Leaf Pest Management to figure out what types of ants you have in your house.
How Bad Is It To Have Ants In My House?
Most Los Angeles ant species inside your home are a little more than a nuisance. They might be stinky or unsightly on your countertop, but they are not going to cause you serious problems. That being said, there are a few ant species in our area that can cause more serious issues. Carpenter ants pose the biggest threat to your property because they can tunnel through wood similar to termites, which can cause expensive damage to your home.
Pharaoh ants, meanwhile, spread dangerous strains of bacteria. This area also has a couple of stinging species of ants, including fire ants and pavement ants. All of this is why effective ant control is so vital.
Why Are Ants Taking Over My Home?
Ants are attracted to your home because it is typically the most convenient source of food and moisture around. It’s easy to raid your garbage and get water from your lawn irrigation system, so ants are naturally going to be drawn to your property.
Even so, there are a few ant prevention tips you can follow to make your house less attractive and encourage ants to stay outside, including:
- Cover all indoor and outdoor garbage at all times.
- Store pantry foods in airtight containers.
- Fix moisture issues like poor drainage or leaks around your property.
- Never leave dirty dishes, including pet bowls, sitting out.
- Seal potential entryways like cracks and holes in your home’s exterior.
Following these best practices can make your home a less convenient spot for ants to set up shop.
How Do I Get Rid Of Ants For Good?
Unfortunately, even the most stringent ant prevention measures don’t always work. Ants are highly motivated to get into our homes, which can sometimes mean no amount of hiding your food or covering your garbage will work. If this is the case, you will need professional help.
Once you have an established ant infestation, it can be very difficult to get rid of. Ant colonies are usually vast and complex, which makes it exponentially harder to eradicate them from your property. Most store-bought ant control solutions don’t eliminate entire colonies for this reason. They typically destroy a portion of the population, encouraging the survivors to spread out and breed even faster.
This is why professional home pest control services from the experts at Leaf Pest Management are usually a far better solution. Where store-bought products fail, we succeed. We won’t just temporarily reduce the ant population around your property. We will strive to eliminate it entirely.
