Why Do I Have Ants In My Durham Home And How Do I Get Them Out?

Ants are everywhere, on every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 12,000 species of ants, and for every person on Earth, there are about 2.5 million ants. So it should come as no surprise that you may have ants in your home. You simply need the services of a professional Durham pest control company like The Eco Man Pest Solutions to help you get them back outside where they belong.

What Are Some Common Types Of Ants In Durham?

There are many types of ants in Durham. Some of the most common species are carpenter ants, fire ants, and odorous house ants.

Carpenter ants are red, black, or a combination of the two colors. They’re about ⅝ of an inch long, with thin waists, six legs, and two antennae. They make their homes in the wooden structure of your home. They don’t eat the wood — they’ll visit your kitchen just like you do when you’re feeling peckish. They just make their home in it. 

Fire ants are reddish-brown and grow between ⅛ and ⅜ of an inch long. They’ve also got the classic ant shape of carpenter ants. They make their home in large, irregularly shaped dome nests in your yard and venture into your home to find food. 

Odorous house ants are tiny, measuring just 1/16 to ⅛ of an inch long. They’re uniformly brown and have the tight waist, six legs, and two antennae of their cousins. They’re so named because when you crush them, they emit an odor that smells like rotten coconuts. 

Regardless of what species of ant you have in your home, you need to get rid of them. You need professional ant control in Durham from The Eco Man Pest Solutions. 

Are Ants In The House A Big Deal?

The short answer is yes; ants in the house can be a very big, and very expensive, deal. Carpenter ants cause American homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs every year — and none of that is covered by homeowners insurance. That doesn’t include the cost to get rid of the carpenter ants, which can also get pricey, depending on the extent of the colony. If left unchecked, carpenter ants can cause the wooden structure of your house to collapse. That’s why you need to know how to get rid of ants in the house sooner rather than later.

Fire ants in your house are a medical big deal. They bite, and they sting, and if enough sting you at the same time, you could be taking a trip to the emergency room, depending on your level of sensitivity to their venom. For most people, a few stings will just result in angry red welts that develop into white pustules. However, for people more allergic to the venom, or for children, the elderly, or people with compromised immune systems, fire ant stings can cause anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include a fast, weak heartbeat, a skin rash, trouble breathing, nausea, and vomiting. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal if left untreated.

Carpenter ants, fire ants, and odorous house ants can all contaminate your food and your food prep surfaces. They walk through decomposing carrion, vegetation, and feces when they’re outside. They carry every bit of what their feet and bodies picked up into your home. When they walk on your food or your counter, they can cause food poisoning that could make you and your family violently ill.

Why Do I Have Ants In My House?

What attracts ants to your Durham home? The same things that you benefit from: shelter, food, and water. Ants will eat the same foods you do, so anything left out on the counter is fair game as far as they’re concerned. They need water and can get it from leaky pipes, fixtures, and faucets. They need shelter and will find it in your yard, your crawlspace, your wall voids, and the structure of your home. 

Some ant prevention tips include:

• Keep an immaculately clean kitchen. 
• Don’t leave food sitting out, not even your pet's bowl. 
• Wash your dishes promptly.
• Take out the kitchen trash daily to outdoor garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. 
• Repair any leaks you find under your sinks, in your bathrooms, and in outside spigots.
• Replace any water-damaged wood you come across.

For the best ant control solutions, call a professional home pest management company like The Eco Man Pest Solutions. 

How Do I Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation?

If you need to know how to get rid of ants, the bottom line is that you need professional help. The Eco Man Pest Solutions brings 25 years of experience in the pest management business. We use eco-friendly products because it’s not about the bugs; it’s about the people. Contact us today for your free quote.