The Types Of Ants Around McKinney
Acrobat Ants: An acrobat ant is light brown to black, ?” long, and has a heart-shaped abdomen. Known for its ability to acrobatically raise its abdomen above its thorax and head, this invasive house pest poses no threat to homeowners but is a serious annoyance.
Carpenter Ants: A carpenter ant is red, black, or red and black, ?” long, and has a large head and mandibles. As its name suggests, this pest builds its nest into structures of wood. If your home offers these pests conditions needed to build, you could be looking at a several thousand dollar repair bill sometime in the near future.
Odorous House Ants: An odorous house ant is brown or black, 1/16 to ?” long, and has an uneven abdomen. Although not dangerous, these pests do produce a pungent odor many liken to rotten coconuts when threatened or squished.
Rover Ants: A rover ant is pale yellow to blackish-brown, 1/10” long, and has a hump-like appearance. Like some other area ants, this pest regularly builds nests within the wall voids of homes and invades living areas to scavenge for food.
How Ants Get Inside
Ants find their way into homes in a variety of ways. Most often they get inside through a gap or crack that has formed in a home’s exterior foundation. These types of openings are also found around window/door frames and along improperly installed or damaged siding. If you have a habit of leaving unscreened doors and windows open, ants will use these larger entry points to get inside. As a general rule, the more damaged your home’s exterior is, the more opportunities ants will have to invade.
Some Practical Ways To Prevent Ants
With the right conditions in place, your home is a magnet to ants. To keep these pests outside where they belong, here are a few prevention tips our experts suggest you try.
- Fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and around window/door frames using a caulking gun.
- Make sure your home’s weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window/door screens are in good working order.
- Eliminate sources of standing water around your yard.
- Address problems with your home’s gutters.
- Repair damaged piping and fixtures around your home.
- Keep your living areas tidy and clean.
- Store away leftover foods into airtight containers after every meal.
One Final Tip To Prevent Ants
Most people do not have the time, energy, or money to prevent ants on their own. If you are looking for a simpler more cost-effective way to keep these pests out of your McKinney home, look no further than Big D Pest & Termite Services. Our team of licensed pest professionals will implement long-lasting and effective home pest control solutions around your property designed to prevent and eliminate a range of area pests including ants.
Reach out to us today and discuss your options with one of our friendly service representatives.