How to Know If Ants Are In The Walls
Ants are no fun, and unfortunately, they do show up in homes no matter how neat and tidy you keep them. As humans, we eat food and can't possibly wipe up every little bit. Also, there are times that we don't realize there is an entry point for these little pests. How to know if ants are in the walls? Listen to the wall in the evening hours and also knock on a solid wood wall. If it sounds hollow, then you have ants. Let's take a look.
Why You May Find Ants in the Walls
Ants like to nest in your walls and often they will do this wherever they can. They like to be inside walls or other wall voids because they can find more food sources, and moisture, and are protected more than they are outdoors. Additionally, ants are able to gain entry to the home through gaps, cracks, and other openings. In order to avoid ants in the walls, you will need to make sure there are no entryways.
Common Ant Species That Live in the Walls
There are a few types of ant species that live in the walls.
Acrobat Ants - they like door and window frames, especially ones that termites or other insects have damaged. Their preference for food is proteins and sweets.
Argentine Ants - build their nests in the wall voids, but also insulation and traps in the bathroom. Food choices are carbohydrates, greasy food, and sugar.
Carpenter Ants - create their nests in solid wood, wood that is decaying, due to insects or moisture, or wooden structures. Other areas they are found include hollow doors, wall voids, attic rafters, crawl spaces, and porch columns that are hollow or have cracks or holes from where utility lines come into the home. They also list carbohydrates, other insects, and sweets.
Little Black Ants - this common type of ants nest in stone or brick veneer, and wall and cabinet voids.
Odorous Ants - they like wall voids near pipes that are moist. Also, termite-damaged wood traps in bathrooms, carbohydrates, and sweets.
Pharaoh Ants - this type of ant prefers areas with moisture such as under the floors, kitchen, and bathrooms for example. They enjoy sweets and proteins.
Signs of Ants
There are some signs of ants that you want to keep an eye out for.
- Ants on food - if you leave food out, you may find it with ants on it. It is a good idea to keep food covered so ants don't get to it and drag it off. Ants are also known to show up in dog food in the home.
- A Colony in the Yard - if you walk through the yard and notice a mound of dirt, you have a colony brewing. This is a great time to contact a pest control company if you need help getting rid of ant colonies. Taking care of this as soon as possible can keep you free from ants in your home.
- Listen to the Walls - put your ear to the wall in the evening. If you hear rustling, you may have carpenter ants in your walls. Also, if the wall is solid wood and it sounds hollow when you knock on it, you could have termites or ants in the walls and need to call a professional right away.
- Trail of Wood Shavings - if you find wood shavings, this could indicate that carpenter ants are into your woodwork.
- Damp Areas - ants like the damp areas of the house and you might find them in your bathroom or kitchen, as well as near a leak in a faucet or outdoor pipe.
How to Avoid An Ant Infestation
Prevention is key and there are things you can do to hopefully alleviate an ant problem and infestation in your home.
- Throw away food properly - trash can or garbage disposal.
- Clean up spills
- Look for gap around doors and windows and seal them so no pests can get in.
- Firewood is stored in a shed and off the ground.
- Airtight containers are the best place to store food.
- Clean dishes that are in the sink and don't leave them sitting overnight.
- Take down and remove tree limbs that are dead and close to home.
How Much Does it Cost
Having a pest control company come out and take care of these pests may be the best road to go. Pest control through Gray Pest Control is $35-$58 quarterly, depending on the plan that you choose. Talking to a pest control professional is the way to go to get rid of an ant problem and find out what is best for your home and situation.
Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know more about ants, there are some other areas to take a look at.
One of those is termites. Keeping an eye out for these is important. Mulch looks great in the garden but some varieties may attract termites. Some of those are Cypress Sapwood, Loblolly Pine, and Slash Pine. If you stay away from these types, other types of mulch will work just fine and may repel termites.
Another area to keep an eye on is roaches. Even though your home may be super clean, you can still get roaches in the home. They, just like ants, like the food sources so making sure entryways are sealed is key. If you find the entryways, seal them, and still have roaches, then it is time to call a professional for help.
Lastly, if you are having a hard time with mosquitos, finding out what eats them might help. They are a delicacy for hawks, dragonflies, birds, bats, and spiders to name a few. Mosquitos can be bothersome outside and making sure that water is not puddling up can help keep them away.
When to Call a Professional
If you are having issues with ants in the home, reach out to your local pest control service. They can recommend areas to check to see if you have entry points for ants, as well as letting you know if they are in the walls. Keep in mind that if you don’t know who to call, you can reach out to your local home inspection team.
Conclusion
It is annoying to deal with an ant issue as they can be stubborn. However, there are ways to get rid of them and you can also do your part in the home by finding their entryways. In addition to this, make sure the counters are clean and there are no food sources for them to go after. If you need help with your ant problem, call on Gray Pest Control for all your pest control needs in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas.