General Pest Frequently Asked Questions

Ants typically invade homes in search of food, water, and shelter. They are attracted to food sources such as crumbs, spills, and improperly stored food items. Additionally, ants may enter homes seeking water during dry periods or to escape extreme weather conditions. They can find entry points through small cracks and gaps in doors, windows, and foundations.

While most ants are not directly harmful to humans, they can still pose problems. Some ant species, such as carpenter ants, can cause structural damage by tunneling through wood. Other species, like fire ants, can deliver painful stings if disturbed. Additionally, ants can contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria as they forage, potentially leading to health concerns. It's crucial to address ant infestations promptly to prevent these issues.

In North Carolina, the most common ant species invading homes include odorous house ants, pavement ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants. Odorous house ants emit a foul smell when crushed. Pavement ants are typically found near driveways and sidewalks but can venture indoors. Carpenter ants can cause structural damage by tunneling through wood. Fire ants are known for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. Professional pest control services can identify the specific species and provide targeted treatment.

DIY ant treatments often provide only temporary relief and may not address the root of the problem. North Carolina's climate and diverse ant population require comprehensive and professional approaches for effective control. Over-the-counter sprays and baits may kill visible ants but often fail to eliminate the entire colony, especially if the queen is not targeted. Professional pest control services have the expertise and resources to provide more effective and lasting solutions.

You should call a professional pest control service at the first sign of an ant infestation to prevent it from worsening. If you notice large numbers of ants, multiple colonies, or signs of structural damage, immediate professional intervention is necessary. We will accurately identify the ant species, locate nests, and implement comprehensive treatment plans to eliminate the infestation and prevent future occurrences. This approach ensures the safety and integrity of your home.

Preventing ant invasions requires a comprehensive strategy. Begin by ensuring impeccable cleanliness, as even the tiniest crumbs can beckon ants. Employ airtight containers for food storage to create barriers against their access to potential food sources. Swiftly repair any leaks, as excess moisture is another ant attractant. Seal entry points such as cracks and gaps around doors, windows, and utility conduits. Keep branches and shrubs trimmed away from your home, as they can serve as ant highways. By adhering to a rigorous regimen of cleanliness and deploying preventative tactics, ant infestations can be substantially minimized. 

Virtually all animals need some form of “sleep,” including ants. However, they do not sleep in the same way humans understand it. They have a cyclical pattern that includes resting periods for entire groups inside their colonies so that some rest while others stay at work. They slow down at least twice a day for a few minutes, with one period of lower activity when their antennae and mandible activity slows for a few moments. Some species show different behaviors at night than during daylight hours.

Our professionals understand the travel patterns of different ant species during the daily cycle of daylight and darkness and plan elimination and exclusion tactics to fit the particular species.

Preventing an ant infestation relies on proper exclusion and sanitation. Ants are attracted to reliable sources of food and water, and they can exploit even the tiniest crack in your home's barriers to get inside. A professional inspection can help ensure that pathways open to ants from the outside have been sealed. When your home has been structurally sealed, you should be sure to keep your screens in place and in good shape when doors or windows are open. Ants are attracted to dripping water and excess moisture in kitchens and bathrooms, and food preparation surfaces should be regularly cleaned to remove the scents that draw ants in. You should properly seal stored food, and take care that no pet food is exposed or left uneaten, as food at floor level is highly attractive to ants.

Ants do not hibernate in the sense of going totally inactive in cold weather, and they do require some warmth to survive. Most outdoor ants dig deeper tunnels to escape the coldest weather and slow down their overall activity in winter. Ants hunker down together in clusters to conserve heat and form a protective barrier around their queen. Some ants might become more visible inside your home in the winter months. If they find warmth along baseboards or heating vents, they are more likely to move around searching for food and water in your home. Visible ants inside your home in cold weather are strong evidence that they have either formed a colony inside or have located an access point from their outside colony that allows them to get inside for warmth.

Ants don't transmit disease in the same way as other insects like mosquitoes that bite humans and pass pathogens directly into the bloodstream. However, they can be hazardous to human health because of the cross-contamination hazard they present.

When ants make their way inside your home, they move around in search of food and water. This means they are very likely to crawl on toilets, sinks, trash cans, and food preparation surfaces. Even if cleaned regularly, these surfaces can become contaminated with bacteria the ants carry on their legs and bodies.

Ants can carry the organisms that cause many food-borne diseases, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.