The Most Effective Ant Control Solution For Jacksonville Homeowners

If you've seen ants around your Jacksonville home, you're not alone. There are many types of ants in the area. Our Jacksonville pest control company is experienced in getting them out of your kitchen and away from your house.

The Life Cycle Of Common Ants

Ants start out their life as eggs that are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Not all eggs get to become full-grown ants. Some are eaten by other ants for extra sustenance when food sources are scarce.

Next, ants become larvae, looking like little worms. They rely on female adult workers to feed them. What do ants eat? Everything! They're omnivorous, meaning they eat plants and meat. They're just as likely to eat flower nectar as they are smaller insects. Adult ants have two stomachs: a large one called a community stomach, where they store food as a liquid to bring back to the colony to feed the larvae, pupae, and queen, and a smaller one for when they, themselves, need to eat.

When the larvae are big enough, they change into pupae. They look more like ants, but their legs and wings are folded against their bodies. Some ants form cocoons for safety, but others do not.

Finally, the pupae become full-grown ants. There are three types of adult ants: queens, workers, and males. Queens are the largest ants, and they give birth to all the eggs in the colony. Males only exist to service the queens, fertilizing the eggs. All the other work for the colony is done by female workers.

If you see ants on your property, or worse, in your house, you need to call a professional company for ant control solutions as soon as possible. 

Why Ants Can Be So Problematic For Homeowners

Ants in Jacksonville are problematic for a number of reasons. The first is that they carry a number of diseases that can contaminate your kitchen counters or any food sitting out, including:

• E. coli
• Shigella
• Salmonellosis
• Staphylococcus
• Clostridium
• Streptococcus

The second reason ants cause problems is that ants, like carpenter ants, are attracted to water-damaged wood. If they move into either environment, they can cause more damage to your home.

The third reason ants are an issue is that some species bite or sting, causing painful welts to arise on your skin. A few species even spray formic acid into the wound, causing more pain.

You need to know how to get rid of ants in your Jacksonville home, so they don't cause any of these problems.

All The Factors That Attract Ants In Homes

Effective ant control begins with keeping a clean home. Clean up spills as they happen and wipe up crumbs before they can attract ants. Also, vacuum, sweep, and mop your kitchen floor regularly. Take out the trash every day to keep ants out of your kitchen garbage cans.

Take a look at your flower beds and garden. If you have aphids or scale insects, you may want to consider treating the plants to get rid of those bugs, which ants love to snack on.

Make sure rainwater isn't gathering near your home. Use downspout diverters or splash blocks to divert the water so ants aren't attracted to excess moisture near the house.

If you can avoid it, don't feed or water your pets outside where ants can easily find the food. They'll cheerfully swarm Fido's food bowl, then come inside looking for more. Ants can forage up to 30 feet away from their colony, looking for food and water.

Make sure your garage door, windows, and doors all seal properly when they're closed. That will help keep ants out of your house, to begin with. If you have openings around where your utilities enter your home, make sure you seal those up as well. Do the same with any cracks or crevices in your foundation.

Maintain your landscaping so that it's at least six inches away from your exterior walls. That includes flower beds, grasses, trees, and shrubs. Get rid of stones or landscape timbers that can provide protection or housing for a colony.

If you follow these ant prevention tips, you may be able to avoid having ants in your Jacksonville house in the first place.

The Secret To Successful Ant Control For Jacksonville Homes

Once ants are in your home, your best bet for ant control in Jacksonville is to call in a professional, such as Lindsey Pest Services. We're locally woman-owned and operated and have over 60 years of experience in pest control. We use only the best effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly pest control solutions. Reach out today to schedule your free inspection and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Jacksonville.