Ants & Fire Ants

Expest Exterminating Ant Control Process

At Expest Exterminating, our ant exterminators follow a step-by-step process that has a proven track record of eliminating these pesky insects. Here is a brief overview of what we do:

• First of all, we identify which ant species have overrun your property. Our course of action will depend to a large extent on the particular species we’re trying to remove.

• Once we identify the ant, we look for conditions in and around the home that may be attracting the ants and contributing to the problem. We will either eliminate these conditions or make recommendations to the homeowner.

• Most ants originate from the exterior of the structure and can be controlled by a barrier treatment around the perimeter of the home.

• If ants are present inside the structure, we often use gel bait insecticides to eliminate ants from the home. This gel bait is strategically placed around the house next to observed ant pathways. In most cases, bait is generally more effective than a spray, since you have to eliminate the ants you don’t see, as well as those you do, in order to stop the infestation.

After the Ant Control Service

After we’ve performed the ant control service for your residence, it’s important that you keep the following points in mind:

• After the bait has been set in place, don’t kill the ants you see or spray any insecticides of your own because this may cause the ants to avoid the bait.

• Avoid using strong cleaners in the vicinity of the bait. (These cleaners can block the vital pheromone trail that ants use to locate the bait.)

• Refrain from disturbing the ant trails. If the ants don’t disappear a few days after the treatment, then further evaluation is needed to determine the cause of the ants.

How to Keep Ants from Entering Your Home in the Future

They say that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” — and that’s certainly true when it comes to pest control. So once your infestation has been eliminated, how can you prevent ants from entering your home again? Here are some key points to remember:

• Do everything within your power to eliminate food sources that may attract ants.
• Wipe down counters, sweep floors, clean up spills, and vacuum floors to remove crumbs and other food sources.
• Empty your trash on a regular basis.
• Regularly wash your dishes.
• Never let your dirty dishes sit in the sink overnight.
• Don’t leave pet food sitting out after mealtime.
• If ants do return, be prepared to describe where you are seeing them to our team. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our ant control services.

On the exterior of the home:

• Eliminate debris from gutters.

• Trim back trees and shrubs that are touching or close to the structure.

• Eliminate harborage areas such as thick mulch, pine straw, or debris around the house.

• Move firewood away from the structure.

• Keep your trash cans away from the house.

• Don’t leave pet food or bowls out after your pets eat.

An Ant’s Life

If knowledge is power, then knowing more about ants can help you understand how to combat an infestation. With that in mind, here is a brief overview of an ant’s life:

• Male ants typically live for a few weeks, and then die after mating.
• Queen ants, on the other hand, may live for decades. They can lay up to 800 eggs a day, and may produce millions of offspring over the course of their lifetime.
• Only the queen ant can lay eggs (in fact, that’s her only responsibility). Worker ants, on the other hand, tend the eggs and rear the newly-born ants.
• The ant caste system includes the queen, male worker ants (winged), and female worker ants (wingless).
• Each ant colony produces a unique scent that every member can detect. Because of this, ants can easily identify invaders, and rush to their colony’s defense.
• When worker ants find a good food source, they instinctively leave a scent so that their fellow ants can also locate it.