The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
The life cycle of ants is similar to that of other insects. Ants are laid as eggs, they develop into larvae, then pupae, and finally they mature into adults. Ants are relatively unique, however, in their designation of different roles with a single colony. An adult ant can be a drone, a queen, or a worker. Ant queens are responsible for growing the population of each colony. They mate with drones and later lay eggs. Workers leave the colony to look for vital supplies or, if necessary, defend the colony from an attack of some kind.
Ant Dangers: Understanding The Risks Of An Infestation
While ants aren’t considered the most dangerous pests in the United States, they do bring certain dangers with them. For example, ants can carry germs that lead to dangerous diseases. They can leave these germs wherever they travel, meaning they can contaminate the surfaces of any location within the home. Particular species of ants actually attack humans when they feel that their colony is being threatened. These ants usually have the ability to bite or sting humans, and ants with stingers have venom that can cause discomfort and potentially more serious problems as well.
Yet another way that ants can represent a danger to a home or business is by causing damage directly to the property itself. Ants that eat wood or burrow through wood to look for food or build their colonies are unwittingly causing damage to those structures. Fortunately, there’s a way to avoid all of these problems: having professionals remove ants from your home with safe and effective methods.
Professional Ant Control: A Great Way To Get Rid Of An Infestation
Professional ant control is really a great way of making sure that an ant infestation is completely handled. Big D Pest & Termite has extensive experience with ant control, and we can implement the solutions that will work best for your home. Hiring professionals to take care of the ants is convenient and it’s the best way to ensure that there are no ants left behind to start another colony.
Ant Prevention Tips: Keep Your Home Ant-Free
To close things out, it’s time to walk through some essential ant prevention tips. These aren’t just tips to go by once you’ve noticed an ant problem; these are essentials in ant control for homeowners, rules that will make your home less desirable to the scouting ants who are hoping to find food, water, and a place to stay:
- Don’t leave food out for long. All leftovers need to be put away and floors should be cleaned regularly.
- Find solutions for gaps underneath or around doors and windows throughout your home.
- Clean the space near the exterior walls of your home. Garbage, rotting wood, and other debris can potentially attract ants. Outdoor ant control is just as important as indoor ant control.
- Make sure you don’t have leaking pipes or other sources of water either indoors or outdoors. Do ants drink water? They do, and you really don’t want to give it out to them willingly.
Contact Big D Pest & Termite to get started with professional ant control services for your home.