Know the Signs of an Ant Infestation

Ants are a nuisance. In fact, according to a survey administered by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), ants are the #1 nuisance pest in America. That same survey noted that more than five out of ten pest professionals (54%) claim that ant infestations are on the rise. Among them, nearly six out of ten (57%) have seen more infestations of odorous house ants. Ants are not as easy to identify as other pests and can be tricky to get rid of. Learn the signs you should be on the lookout for to protect your home or property.

Four Signs of Ant Infestation

While seeing one ant is easy to write off, especially in the summer, if you’re seeing a lot of ants regularly you might have the beginning of an infestation on your hands. Keep a watchful eye for these signs:

1. You visibly see ants inside or outside of your home. Visibly seeing ants is the most obvious sign of an infestation. Even if you only see the ants outside of your home, it’s probably only a matter of time before they find their way inside. Pay particular attention if you find large mounds and big groups of ants clustering together outside.
2. You see an ant trail. If you see a trail or cluster of ants, a scout ant has already sent word back to the colony that there are food sources available and that it needs backup. This is a telltale sign of an infestation and an indication you need to act fast.
3. You see sawdust. Carpenter ants are particularly troublesome as they bore through wood. What they leave in their wake are sawdust trails. Unlike termites, they do not feed on the wood, but they can still do costly damage to homes. If you see sawdust, it’s a good indication that a carpenter ant nest is nearby.
4. You hear rustling in your walls. Many different types of ants might take up residence in your walls. Once there are enough ants in the nest, you will likely hear faint rustling sounds from the walls or ceilings.

DIY vs. Do It Right

If you see one of these signs of an infestation, your first inclination might be to try to take care of the problem yourself. That’s not usually the best route. At best, over-the-counter repellants only take care of a few ants but do not eliminate the colony. At worst, they can actually scatter the ants into even more locations in your home.

It’s much more effective to reach out to a proven pest control company like Ford’s Hometown Services. Why?

• Knowing what type of ants you are dealing with is one of the most important steps to determining the right course of action. There are quite a few types of ants that infiltrate homes and businesses in New England, and with 80+ years of combined experience, Ford’s Hometown Services is an expert in ant elimination.
• Our trained and licensed team has access to high-quality, non-repellent pest control products that get rid of the problem, guaranteed.
• We can provide recommendations to assist with identifying access points and offer recommendations to help stop ants from getting inside your home or business.