What You Need To Know To Keep Ants Away From Your Brentwood Property

Have you ever had the unpleasant experience of having an ant crawl over your barefoot or up your leg? The tingling sensation of having any bug crawl across your skin is enough to cause even the toughest of individuals to cringe. If you hate ants as much as most people, we have a few prevention tips you should hear about. Here is everything you need to know on how to keep ants away from your Brentwood property.

Common Ants Found Around Brentwood

Many species of ants are native to Tennessee. We have little black ants, Argentine ants, fire ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, Pharaoh ants, and a number of others. Each species is different in appearance and each causes different problems around homes. Here is a brief description of common ants and what you can expect from them.

Argentine Ants: 1/16 to ¼ of an inch long, dark brown to black in color and shiny, these ants love building their nests around wet environments.

Little Black Ants: 1/16 of an inch long, dark brown to jet black in color, these are one of the most common ant invaders here in Brentwood.

Red Imported Fire Ants: ⅛ to ⅜ of an inch long, dark reddish-brown in color, these are capable of biting and stinging whomever they deem a threat.

Carpenter Ants: ⅝ of an inch long, red, black, or a combination of both in color, these are known for the way they construct their nests into the wood of homes.

Pavement Ants: ⅛ of an inch long, dark brown to black in color, these ants are known for building their nests around and beneath driveways, sidewalks, and roads.

Pharaoh Ants: 1/16 of an inch long, pale yellow in color, these are able to spread a number of dangerous diseases.

The Problems Ants Pose

Most ants are harmless. There are only a select few species that pose any threat to you or your home. Carpenter ants, Pharaoh ants, and fire ants, in particular, are especially troublesome.

Carpenter ants will build their nests deep into the wood of homes which slowly weakens and breaks down the home's structural foundation. This damage can result in thousands of dollars in home repair costs if carpenter ants are given an ample amount of time.

Pharaoh ants can pick up dangerous bacteria and spread it throughout homes, contaminating food and threatening diseases such as salmonellosis and streptococcus.

Fire ants build large nests in the dry sections of yards and encroach on and destroy grass nearby. When interacted with, these pests will bite and sting, causing a fair amount of pain to whomever they attack.

How To Prevent Ants From Getting Inside

Ants are drawn to homes for a number of reasons. Here are a few prevention tips to block off ants and discourage them from entering your home.

• Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior using a caulking gun.

• Repair or replace damaged weather stripping, ripped window/door screens, and broken door sweeps around your home.

• Address moisture problems in and around your home.

• Keep your grass well-trimmed and your landscaping properly maintained.

• Store leftover food after meals inside airtight containers.

• Make sure all of your trashcans have tight-fitting lids.

• Pick up and clean out your pets' water and food dishes after they are done with them.

If you are looking for a simpler and more effective way to keep ants out of your Brentwood home, we can help! Not only is our Home Protection Plus plan affordable at only $39 a month, but it is also designed to keep a number of annoying, dangerous, and destructive pests, including ants, out of your home. It even includes monthly treatments to keep mosquitos out of your yard. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Give us a call today for more details about our services or to schedule a visit for your Brentwood home and property.