What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ants In My Wilmington Home?

Ants are tiny pests that are pros at entering houses and making themselves at home. Ants are mostly nuisance pests but, in large numbers, are capable of causing a lot of problems for Wilmington residents and their property. 

Ants are social creatures that live within a colony, dictated by a rigid caste system. These matriarchal colonies are capable of growing in number to the thousands! The queen ant gives birth non-stop, every day. Because of the size and scope of ant infestations, they're best handled by Wilmington pest control professionals like the team at Delmar Pest Control.

Should I Be Worried if I See One Ant In My House?

In Wilmington, two of the most common ants to invade properties are fire ants and carpenter ants. Ants are social creatures that are capable of growing their colonies rapidly. As such, seeing one ant means there is likely a colony of ants nearby. The single ant you may come across is likely a scout in search of food for the colony.

Fire ants are tiny, red ants that build large, irregularly shaped, mound-nests in soil. They usually build their nests near a structural foundation or within the landscaping. Fire ants have stingers and, as they are known to be aggressive and territorial, they will sting if provoked. If you notice a fire ant mound near your property, it is a clear sign of fire ant activity.

Carpenters ants are large, black ants with a prominent set of mandibles for chomping wood. Carpenter ants live within wood and tend to build nests outdoors in logs or fence posts. If you notice tiny holes in wood or carpenter ant frass in your home, a carpenter ant infestation is likely underway. Carpenter ant frass is the wood shaving and debris that carpenter ants push out of their nests. Carpenter ant frass can be found near baseboards and siding or anywhere a carpenter ant colony has decided to make a home.

What Problems Can Ants Create In My Home?

Although ants are tiny and may therefore seem harmless, an ant infestation should be taken seriously. Fire ant control for your Wilmington property is important as fire ants can easily gain access to your home's HVAC and electrical systems. Not only can this cause electrical problems for your home but it also allows fire ants access to the interior of your home, where the threat of being stung is increased. 

Carpenter ants are wood-destroying pests. They do not eat wood but instead use wooden structures to create their maze-like nests. In order to achieve this, carpenter ants must bore into wood to carve out their nests. This causes the structural integrity of the wood to be greatly compromised. Over time, carpenter ants can do just as much damage as termites; this is why it is so important to get rid of carpenter ants as soon as possible.

Both fire ants and carpenter ants contaminate food. Ants are attracted to human food. What may be a few crumbs to a person can be a feast for an ant. Not only do ants pose a threat to the structure of your home but they also come with the risk of food poisoning.

Why Are There Ants In My House?

If you are seeing ants in your Wilmington home, it is because your home is hospitable to ants. Like all living creatures, ants require water to survive, so standing water is one of the major things that attract ants to your property. Additionally, an overgrown yard or tree branches growing beside the house offer excellent ladders for ants looking to enter a home. Leaving food out, neglecting a sink full of dirty dishes, or allowing spills to set are all possible reasons why ants may be infesting your home.

How Can I Permanently Get Rid Of The Ants In My House?

If an active ant infestation is causing chaos in your Wilmington home, reach out to Delmar Pest Control. Delmar Pest Control has over 25 years of experience in protecting Wilmington residents against pests like ants. We guarantee excellence! Reach out to Delmar Pest Control today and put an end to your ant problem.