Ant Control 101: What Every Plymouth Homeowner Needs To Know

Factors That Attract Ants Into The Home And How To Remove Them

We prefer ants to stay outside in nests while we enjoy the comforts of our houses free from ants. Since the outdoors is the natural habitat of ants, why do they come into our homes? Can't ants be content to stay outside where they belong? Why do ants enter Plymouth houses?

Food is the primary reason ants enter Plymouth houses. Ants are omnivores, which means they eat meat, fruits, vegetables, and other items like pet food and rotting food. Have you seen a trail of ants moving along the baseboards in your house? Have you witnessed a line of ants along the foundation that disappears under the siding near your kitchen? The reason for these lines of ants is that when they find a food source, they release pheromones to alert and guide other ants to the location. Soon, you have a line of ants following the pheromone trails to crumbs on the floor, exposed pet food, or open indoor garbage cans. 

Water is another attraction for ants. When we experience extended dry spells, ants invade houses for moisture sources. If they find a way into the house, they create nests in the walls near drains, leaky pipes, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other areas with high humidity. The soil in potted plants is another favorite hiding place for ants due to the moisture content. 

Ants also enter Plymouth homes searching for shelter. Carpenter ants often live in dead tree stumps or rotting fence posts in the yard, but when the nest matures, reproductive winged ants leave to find new nesting locations. Moist, often fungus-infested wood, in crawl spaces, basements, and underneath wood decks and porches attracts the swarming carpenter ants. Other ants enter homes because their nest has been disturbed, and the queens and their entourages have fled to begin a new colony (this process is known as budding). When ants enter, they seek dark locations near food and water sources like voids in walls, cracks in the walls between door and window frames, crawl spaces, attics, basements, electrical boxes, insulation, and other dim areas. 

Ants are ectotherms or cold-blooded insects that cannot internally regulate their body temperature. Thus, ants rely upon the environment to keep their body temperature at a life-sustaining level. When colder air moves into the area, warmer air seeping from toasty Plymouth homes attracts ants. If the ants can find entry points, they will enter the houses to stay warm and avoid freezing. 

How do you keep ants from entering your Plymouth home? Ant prevention tips include using a silicone-based caulk to seal cracks, gaps, and holes, repairing window and door screens, installing door sweeps, and fine wire mesh screens over the crawl space and attic vents.

When a technician from Combat Pest Control thoroughly inspects your Plymouth home, they can provide several ant control solutions to prevent future infestations.

The Most Effective Ant Control Method For Plymouth Homes

Combat Pest Control provides local, fast, effective ant pest control near you. When you schedule an inspection, a highly trained pest control technician will investigate your Plymouth home to determine attractants, entry points, and areas of infestation. Our technician will create a plan using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions to remove the ants by utilizing a treatment plan working with you to prevent future problems. Your safety, as well as the protection of the environment, are our primary concerns; therefore, we use eco and bio-friendly products to eliminate ants in your Plymouth house.

If you are searching for an ant control service near your home, you need to look no further than Combat Pest Control. Our decades of experience, combined with knowledge and the latest tools and techniques, ensure your complete satisfaction. Contact us today and get a free estimate.