Are House Ants Something to Worry About?
House ants may seem like harmless creatures, but they can become a nuisance for Missouri homeowners. Ants are seen all year round; they seek shelter and invade your home for food sources. Summers increase the chances of an ant infestation. This often prompts residents in Missouri to ask one question: are house ants something to worry about?
Much like other pests, ants persistently look for food, water, and shelter. Once inside a home, they can create colonies that may multiply rapidly. You will be living within an infestation before you know it. Certain species of ants, such as carpenter ants, can tunnel through your wooden furniture and cause damage worth thousands of dollars.
Ants may also carry pathogens and contaminate surfaces and food sources in your home. With the ability to go unnoticed, ants can cause big trouble in less time. As a homeowner, it is important to equip yourself with pest knowledge, including ants. If you suspect an infestation, call an Exterminator in Kansas City for an inspection today.
Potential problems caused by house ants
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Health risks.
House ants crawl out and about your house and contaminate surfaces and food sources. They leave bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause health issues. Moreover, if you are allergic to ants, certain species can trigger allergic reactions, such as itching, swelling, or even anaphylaxis in severe cases.
2. Structural damage.
Certain species of ants, such as carpenter ants, are infamous for causing structural damage to homes and their furniture. They will cause destruction to your property by tunneling through wooden furniture and any wooden items they can find. They also damage the structural integrity of your property, such as beams and joists.
3. Landscape damage.
Ants can damage your garden and landscapes, and some species can create mounds that can disrupt the lawn aesthetics. Additionally, large ant colonies can damage your vegetable gardens and other plants. All the effort you put into gardening can go to waste with the presence of these critters.
4. Uncontrollable infestation.
Ants are known to reproduce rapidly. A small group can grow into a large colony before you know it. Handling such a big infestation is impossible without professional intervention. When you ignore the early signs of invasion, you set yourself up for an even greater problem.
5. Electrical hazards.
Beyond furniture and structural damage, house ants can also cause electrical hazards by nesting in wiring and causing malfunctions. They use pieces of wires to build their nests. They gnaw on your electrical wires, which can result in a short circuit.
When should you start worrying about ants?
There are certain warning signs that tell you when you should start worrying about ants. One of them is seeing multiple trails of them in your house. When a few ants visit your property and find food, they leave pheromones to call upon the other members of their colony as well.
Visible ant nests around your property are also a topic of concern. If you notice ant mounds outside your home or nests near doorways and windows, be careful. Such signs indicate the presence of a colony nearby, perhaps in your garden. Other than that, wood damage is an obvious sign of the presence of carpenter ants.
To check for wood damage in your property, simply tap a few wooden furniture. If they sound hollow but were originally not, inspect the whole furniture. You will most likely find tunnels made by ants. Finally, if you see them getting larger and larger in number with time, do not hesitate to call professional pest control.
Protect your home from ants!
Ants may seem like small and harmless creatures, but you may be underestimating them. They can cause damage to property in ways you might not even predict. Therefore, call a professional pest control service in Missouri today to determine the type of ant on your property and figure out a proper treatment plan.