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What Are Pharaoh Ants?
Pharaoh ants are small ants that live together in very large colonies. They are most often found invading places that handle food, such as hotels, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, apartment complexes, and restaurants. However, they will infest almost any type of building and they frequently become an issue in the winter as they seek out indoor heating.
Pharaoh ants are amber or yellowish in color and have a dark brown or black abdomen. Workers grow to be about 1/16th of an inch in length, with the queens being slightly larger in size, growing to 1/8th of an inch in length.
Unlike a lot of other ant species that build large colonies with a single queen, pharaoh ants will create many small colonies, each with their own queen, that live in close proximity to each other. These colonies don’t compete with each other, but instead live peacefully together.
Are Pharaoh Ants Dangerous?
Pharaoh ants are considered a dangerous ant species to have to invade your home. The main reason they’re dangerous is because they are known for carrying and transmitting a wide variety of diseases. These diseases include salmonellosis and streptococcus. Pharaoh ants can be particularly problematic in hospitals where they will invade wounds, IV bags, and get into the mouths and eyes of patients.
Another reason pharaoh ants are dangerous is because they usually invade in large numbers. Not only does this make it difficult to get rid of an infestation, but it also increases the likelihood of the spread of diseases.
What Causes Pharaoh Ants?
Pharaoh ants enter homes and other buildings while foraging for food, looking for water, or seeking shelter. They move inside and between homes using wires and cables as their own “highways”.
Pharaoh ants feed on sweets, oil, and proteins, so they’re typically able to find a food source in any building with a kitchen. However, even if you’re extremely careful to keep food stored in sealed containers, they’ll also eat dead insects, sponges, shoe polish, and other random items, which can make it difficult to repel them.
Pharaoh ants like to nest in warm, humid areas that provide easy access to food and water sources. Nesting areas include wall voids, behind baseboards, underneath floors, and even inside furniture.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Get Rid of Pharaoh Ants Myself?
Do-it-yourself pest control products are often ineffective against pharaoh ants and other household pests. Not only that, but they can also be dangerous for you, your family, and your pets, especially if they are not mixed or placed properly. DIY pest control products also do nothing to solve the issue of how and why pharaoh ants are invading your home in the first place. In fact, in the case of pharaoh ants, DIY products can lead to “budding” and a larger infestation.
The best way to safely and completely get rid of these pests and prevent a re-infestation is to get help from a professional Nashville ant control expert. If pharaoh ants have infested your property or home, contact the professionals at All-American Pest Control today.
How To Prevent a Pharaoh Ant Infestation
Along with putting into place a year-round pest control program from the pest control experts at All-American Pest Control, the following prevention tips can help prevent problems with pharaoh ants in your home:
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Make sure to regularly remove trash from your home and place it in outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids until the trash pick-up day.
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Place trash cans, woodpiles, and compost piles a distance away from the exterior of your home so that they don’t attract pharaoh ants to your house.
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Reduce areas of high humidity in your home by using dehumidifiers, air-conditioners, and cross-ventilation strategies.
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Seal cracks or crevices in your home’s foundation or exterior walls.
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Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
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Caulk spaces and gaps around exterior windows and doors and fill in the spaces around wires, cables, and other utility entrances.
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Swiftly clean up spills and crumbs, and regularly wash dirty dishes.
To schedule your free home evaluation, contact us today at All-American Pest Control!
Why Choose All-American Pest Control?
With over 60 years of experience, we know the time, effort, and patience it takes to solve any pest problem- including problems with pharaoh ants. With All-American Pest Control, you’ll receive quality services, thorough treatments, and a commitment to solving your pest problem from our trained, friendly experts.
Our pharaoh ant control services are designed to get at the root of your ant problem so that it is fully eliminated and doesn’t return. We’ll determine how the ants are getting into your home and what’s attracting them so that we can target the specific issues that are causing your pharaoh ant infestation.
