Why Ants Invade Wilmington Homes And How To Get Them Out

Ants are incredibly common pests and so often go unnoticed or downright ignored. In fact, there are over 10,000 known species of ants. Although these insects are small and relatively harmless, they can still cause damage to your property. Furthermore, an ant infestation in your Wilmington home is a nuisance. Several types of ants are common in Wilmington, including but not limited to fire ants, carpenter ants, and odorous house ants.

Fire ants are small, red ants known for their burning sting. These ants are most often found infesting yards. Odorous house ants are small, dark brown ants that are notorious for the stench they give off when crushed. These ants frequently infest kitchens. Carpenter ants are large, black ants with a robust set of mandibles. These ants are infamous for infesting wooden structures. Regardless of what type of ant is infesting your home, professional pest control in Wilmington will be required to expertly remove the infestation.

The Life Cycle Of Common Ants

Ants live within a strict social hierarchy, known as a colony. An ant colony is matriarchal, headed by the queen. The queen's job is to populate the colony and command the other ants, which are the worker ants and soldier ants. Worker ants feed the colony, care for the queen's offspring, and maintain the nest. The soldier ants defend the colony. 

All ants begin as eggs produced by the queen ant. Within one to two weeks, these eggs hatch, and babies, called larvae, emerge. Ant larvae take approximately three weeks to grow into pupae. The pupal stage is a bit like a butterfly's cocoon, where the young ants can grow and morph into their final form. Within two weeks, the ant pupae grow into adults. As the young ants go from pupae to adults, they will either become worker ants, soldier ants, or reproductive ants. 

Reproductive ants typically have wings and will be able to procreate and create new colonies. Depending on the ant's species and role in the colony, they can live from a few months to several years.

The Many Problems Ants Can Create In Your Home

Ants are small but they work together as one, larger organism. They have a "hive mind" and their colonies easily number into the thousands. Additionally, ants have been known to be able to carry one to five thousand times their own weight! 

Ants in the home tend to congregate around food and water sources, contaminating them for the humans and pets that live in the home. Although ants are not known to spread diseases, they can cause food poisoning if you eat food they have contaminated. Additionally, some ants like carpenter ants, cause structural damage. Carpenter ants bore through wood to create their nests. In the process of their nest construction, they reduce the stability of wooden structures. The problems that ants cause in and around your Wilmington property can be costly and lead to unsafe living conditions.

How And Why Ants Invade Our Homes

Ants invade homes in search of food. Their drive for food and water may lead them straight to your house if you are not careful. Ants can access your home via an open door or a ripped window screen. Some tips to avoid ants include:

• Keep your yard trimmed and vegetation cut back from the side of the house.
• Avoid standing water in the yard and the home.
• Maintain insect screens.
• Store firewood at least 20 feet from the side of the house.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Clean up crumbs and spills right away.

Prevention is a great ant control solution that avoids an infestation before it can even begin.

The Most Effective Ant Control Solution For Wilmington Homes

If an active ant infestation is already underway on your Wilmington property, then you can rely on Delmar Pest Control for expert ant pest control. At Delmar Pest Control, we know that no home infestation is a one-size-fits-all situation. As such, we offer custom treatments to guarantee that your home is pest-free when we leave. With free inspections and more than 25 years of experience, you know you are in good hands with Delmar Pest Control!