What To Do If You're Seeing Ants In Your Atlanta Home

Nobody likes to see ants in their home. In Atlanta, many species of ants exist, including two types of carpenter ants. Both these ant species can be a nuisance and cause problems for you and your family. At Squash A Bug Pest Control, we provide customized pest control in Atlanta and know what steps you need to take to eliminate the ants from your home. 

Ants Are A Common Problem In Atlanta 

Our warm and humid climate makes Atlanta a premiere location for ants. Here is a look at the various types of ants that many homeowners face:

• Carpenter ants: Black carpenter ants and red and black carpenter ants are both found in Atlanta. As their name suggests, these are wood-eating ants with either solid black or red bodies with a black thorax. 
• Odorous house ants: These are the most common types of ants inside area homes. They get their names from the rotten coconut smell that their bodies emit when crushed. 
• Fire ants: These ants have bright red bodies. They prefer to live outdoors, building large colonies up to two feet wide. They do sneak into homes on occasion.
• Acrobat ants: These ants usually have dark brown or black bodies. They get their name from their ability to lift their abdomen above their head and thorax. 

Some ants that are commonly found in Atlanta are nuisance pests. However, a few of them can cause a lot of damage to your home and cause allergic reactions in some people.

Does One Ant Mean I Have An Infestation?

In most cases, if you see one ant in your home, several are hiding somewhere else. Ants are tiny insects that will sneak into the space behind your walls and above your ceilings to build nests in the installation of your home. When you see one or two ants, they are usually scouts checking out the area to see if there is a viable food source. Once they determine the area to be safe, a long line of other ants will follow them back to the food.

The Problems An Ant Infestation Can Create In Your Home

Ants crawl over some of the most unsanitary surfaces, which include old garbage and fecal matter, allowing them to pick up a variety of bacteria, which they can then spread to you when they crawl around your house. Some of the various illnesses that you can catch from having ants in your home include:

• Salmonellosis
• E. coli infection
• Streptococcus
• Staph infection

Carpenter ants are similar to termites because they also burrow through wood. However, carpenter ants do not consume wood like termites; they only nest in it. They can cause expensive damage to your home and wooden structure.

Why It Is So Difficult To Get Rid Of Ants On Your Own

Ants live in large colonies. Depending on the species, one ant colony could have several thousand ants. Because they live in large numbers, getting rid of ants on your own can be extremely difficult. 

The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation In Your Home Fast!

If you are struggling to get rid of the ants in your Atlanta home, give us a call. At Squash A Bug Pest Control, we understand that every pest situation is different. We will take the time to thoroughly inspect your property to better understand the severity of the problem. We will then devise a customized plan to eliminate the ants for good.