In Ventura County, one of the most common ants is the Argentine ant. While Argentine ants have many similar characteristics to other ants, they also have some major differences. This guide will explore how you can tell if you have an infestation of ants, whether it’s dangerous to have ants in your home, why you have Argentine ants in your home, and how you can get rid of them once and for all by partnering with a Ventura County pest control company like Ventura Pest Control.
How Can I Tell If I Have An Ant Infestation?
Argentine ants in Ventura County aren’t subtle when they’re moving into your home.
You’re going to know they’re there through several signs, including:
- Seeing the ants walking around outside or in your home: That’s the most surefire way to know because if you have a few ants, there’s a colony nearby. Argentine ants are black to brown, and 1/16 to ¼ of an inch long. They have three body parts that are oval in shape. If you squash them, they emit a musty odor.
- Finding an ant trail: An ant trail is a wide parade of ants going into your home for food and taking it back out to the colony. Of course, if you see an ant trail, the colony may be inside your walls, under your sink, or in your crawl space.
- Noticing ant hills outside your home: Ant hills may seem small and innocuous. However, under that small hill, there may be thousands of ants that are ready to move into a new home. Argentine ants don’t swarm like other ants. Instead, they mate inside the parent colony, then leave with several workers to begin an off-shoot colony, which could be in your home.
- Discovering ants swarming on food you left out, either on your kitchen counter or back patio: Ants prefer sweets, but also love proteins, and will eat just about anything you will.
If you spot any of these indications of an infestation, you need to know how to get rid of Argentine ants. The best way to do that is to contact Ventura Pest Control as soon as possible.
Is It Dangerous To Have Ants In My House?
Argentine ants in Ventura County are not carriers of any specific diseases. However, as they walk around outside, they’re not careful about what they walk through. They can pick up bacteria or other pathogens on their feet and bodies, which they then spread across your kitchen counter and the bowl of fruit you left out on your dining room table. Food poisoning is not uncommon when you have an ant infestation.
Before anyone in your family becomes ill from eating something ants have walked on, or from eating food prepared on a contaminated surface, call the professionals at Ventura Pest Control for the best Argentine ant control in the county.
Why Do I Have Ants In My House?
If you have an Argentine ant infestation on your property, you’re not alone. They’re everywhere in the area. They move into your house in search of three things: shelter, food, and water.
Argentine ants will move into your home for the winter when the ground gets too cold for them. They’ll often colonize areas around pipes, under sinks, and near bathtubs to find a ready source of water. Also, they may stick close to your kitchen and its plethora of food sources.
How Can I Permanently Get Rid Of The Ants In My House?
There are many ways you can get rid of the ants in your house, including:
- Seal cracks and crevices in your foundation, blocking access.
- Trim shrubs, bushes, and other vegetation back to two feet away from your house, and cut back tree branches so they’re six feet away from your home, to eliminate roadways into your house.
- Fix leaky pipes, faucets, spigots, and fixtures.
- Ensure your lawn is draining properly. Use downspout extenders and splash stones to divert water away from your home. Water-damaged wood is not only a source of water for Argentine ants, but it’s also a point of entry into your home.
- Put tight-fitting lids on your outdoor trash cans, and empty your indoor trash cans every day.
- Keep your kitchen immaculately clean. Don’t let dirty dishes pile up. Wipe up spills and crumbs as soon as they happen. Sweep, vacuum, and mop your kitchen floor regularly.
When you need to know how to control Argentine ants, the best way to permanently get rid of the ants in your house is to partner with Ventura Pest Control. Ventura Pest Control is the largest, oldest, local family-owned full-service pest company in all of Ventura County. The reason for our more than 60 years of success? We consistently wow our customers with our extraordinarily friendly, professional, and competitively priced services. Contact us today to get your free quote!
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