How To Deal With Ants In The Kitchen

One might think that the removal of ants in the house is a simple task. However, you will soon find out that this is not your average do it yourself project. Nashville pest control experts will agree that these nuisance pests are quite difficult to successfully eradicate without professional techniques. However, there are several things the homeowner can do to help prevent an ant infestation. Of those tips, the two most important things to remember are eliminating points of entry and removal of all sources of water and food.

There are quite a variety of ants in Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area. Some of the more common species include odorous house ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants and pharaoh ants. However, when dealing with ants in the kitchen, you are more than likely being infested with odorous house ants. Contrary to popular opinion, it is not easy to successfully know how to get rid of ants. Much of this is due to a lack of knowledge about ants and how they operate.

An ant colony is made up of a queen ant, multiple sterile females called workers, and reproducing males. The sterile female workers perform many duties including feeding the rest of the colony. Almost all ants seen in the house are worker ants. One of the reasons do it yourself techniques are not successful is that the only ants targeted are those you see. Ants can be very difficult to control and cannot be completely eradicated until the entire colony is removed.

These tiny nuisance pests can enter through even the smallest of cracks or holes. The workers are tenacious in their search for water and food. Once they locate a source of food, the ant leaves an invisible chemical trail for other ants to follow. Ants will nest just about anywhere in and around your house. Nests can be found inside walls, under foundations and outdoors in your lawn. The ant nest or colony can reach a population of up to 500,000 ants. It is easy to see that this arduous task of eradication calls for professional pest control experts.

While these house ants are a nuisance and can certainly contaminate food items, they are not a dangerous threat like that of the carpenter ant. The danger posed by carpenter ants is not directed toward people. They are not poisonous and even if they do bite, it is nothing more than a minor pinch. The danger from carpenter ants is the extensive damage inflicted on the wooden structure of the home. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. However, they will excavate inside structures and create galleries inside the wood where they establish their nests. The parent colony is outside, usually in dead or rotting wood but there can be many satellite colonies inside the home.

All-American Pest Control understands the importance of total eradication of ants inside and around the home. With more than 50 years experience, we know the time, effort and commitment it takes to eliminate ants from the home. Our no-obligation, free home evaluation consists of a thorough inspection from a trained professional inside, under and around your home. We will be looking for any visible signs of the presence of pests, any damage inflicted and a written report of our findings including recommendations of treatment and repairs as needed.

We offer our Perimeter Pest Control program as well as our Green Choice program to provide protection from more than 47 common Middle Tennessee pests, including those nuisance ants in the kitchen.