Your Tulsa home should be a fortress against unwanted invaders, but that can be difficult when the individuals laying siege upon your home are smaller than a pinhead. Ants are some of the most common pests that homeowners have to deal with, but that doesn’t make them any less problematic – depending on the species, they can cause many problems in your Tulsa home. Effective ant control is crucial for maintaining a safe and peaceful atmosphere in your humble abode, so it’s good to know what causes ants to infest homes, how to prevent ants from infesting, and how to get rid of ants if they’ve already snuck inside.
Common Home-Invading Ants In Tulsa
Despite thousands of different species of ants worldwide, only the most minor fraction of them actively infest homes. For Tulsa, the most common of those seldom few are narrowed down to three:
- Odorous house ants – 1/8 of an inch long, dark brown to black, release a rotten coconut odor when crushed
- Pharaoh ants – 1/16 of an inch long, generally yellowish-orange in color
- Carpenter ants – between 1/8 to ½ of an inch long, coloring varies between black, brown, or a mix of red and black
While odorous house ants are more of a nuisance pest than dangerous, carpenter ants and pharaoh ants can create a hazardous environment in your home. Carpenter ants build their colonies in dead and decaying wood, weakening support beams and flooring, and pharaoh ants spread diseases like salmonella and streptococcus. This is why proper ant control in your Tulsa home is so essential – prolonged infestations can lead to significant structural damage and potentially deadly health issues.
Why Ants Infest Tulsa Homes And How To Prevent Them
Several factors could cause ants to infest your Tulsa home, from moisture issues to improper food storage. Sometimes inclement weather such as flooding, extreme heat, or frigid temperatures will chase them inside, but usually, it’s because they’ve found easy access to food and water. Reducing these factors and potential entry points around your home will help to prevent ants from infesting:
- Aerate the soil around your property to promote proper drainage
- Keep your lawn neat – dispose of leaf piles, mulch piles, sticks and branches, and miscellaneous debris
- Inspect the exterior of your home for any gaps and cracks – foundation, siding, around pipes and wires, door frames, window frames, roof, and trim
- Replace any worn-down weather stripping around doors and windows
- Keep tight-fitting lids on all indoor and outdoor trash bins
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly to keep food particles off of the floor
- Wipe down counters, dining tables, and food prep areas daily
- Keep all food, including pet food, stored in airtight containers
- Never leave food or dirty dishes sitting out overnight
- Inspect the interior of your home for leaky pipes and extensive water damage
- Invest in a dehumidifier for moisture-retaining rooms such as kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Tulsa Home
Nobody wants to deal with ants in their home, but trying to get rid of them on your own might not be as effective as you think. Even if you manage to find the nest, unsuccessful DIY extermination could worsen an infestation. Some species create satellite colonies when they feel threatened, leading to a more daunting infestation. If you need to get rid of ants in your Tulsa home, you need the best ant control in Tulsa: Montgomery Exterminating.
Our pest control experts provide effective ant control at affordable prices, and we work hard to provide the fast, friendly, and thorough pest services you deserve. We believe everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes, so we only use the highest quality pest control products in all of our treatments. If you’re ready to experience the peaceful security that comes with professional pest control, then get in contact with us for more information on how we can help you.
