Residential Pest Control

Ant Control from Ehrlich

Protecting Your Home & Family from Ant Problems

Dealing with an Ant Problem in your Home

It can be annoying to find ants in your home, and many ants, including the common pavement ant can be difficult to control. Considering that ants frequently travel through unsanitary areas before they end up on your countertops, you should take steps to keep them away from your family, pets and food.

Carpenter Ants, on the other hand, are often difficult to locate in your home. Carpenter ants damage wood and can cause significant damage to the structure of your home..

Types of Ant Problems

Some ant species live in colonies that are supported by a single queen while others are supported by multiple queens. Although there are thousands of different ant species, there are relatively few that we commonly see as pests. These include:

Pavement Ants - Only 1/8 inch long, the tiny black Pavement Ant is very common. Large numbers of Pavement Ants are often found in sidewalk joints, under stones and concrete slabs. Pavement Ants do not cause structural damage or present risks to humans but are an annoyance inside the home.

Pharaoh Ants – worker ants are 1/16” long and the Queen is 1/8 - 1/4 long. Both workers and the Queen are a yellow-brown color. Pharoah Ants originate from the tropics and require artificial heat in order to survive and reproduce and tend to live in large heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels and apartments. The pharoah ant is one of the most difficult ant species to control.

Citronella Ants - About ¼ inch long, citronella ants swarm in the late winter and early spring. Because of their swarming, they are often mistaken for termites. Unlike termites, however, citronella ants are simply a nuisance and do not cause structural damage. Citronella ants are so named for the pleasant citronella odor they give off when crushed.

For more information on different types of ants, along with ant pictures, visit our Ants Pest Guide section.

How to Ant-Proof Your Home

Most ants come inside your home looking for food. They are attracted by sweet and sticky substances. Ant proof you home by making food unavailable:

• Always cover food – who knows where that ant has been before it crawls across your food?!
  
• Clean food and liquid spills immediately
  
• Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances
  
• Make sure all garbage cans are tightly sealed
  
• Keep compost piles enclosed and covered
  
• Put away pet food as soon as your pet has finished eating

You can also help prevent Ants entering your home by sealing access points such as cracks and crevices in door and window frames.

How to get rid of Ants

While a wide range of do-it-yourself ant control products are available for treating ants, many times effective ant control requires a professional pest control service to gain control and prevent recurrence.

Ant Control for your Home

Although many homeowners struggle with do it yourself ant control remedies and ant bait products, the results are often less than satisfactory. Small problems can develop into large ones and this is when many people seek out the services of a pest control professional.

Ehrlich technicians are skilled, experienced professionals – they are state certified, licensed applicators and are required to participate in regular training programs to maintain their expertise. They understand the habits of each ant specie and use that knowledge when developing a ant control program for your home. They also have respect for you, your home, your family and your time.

At Ehrlich Pest Control, we pride ourselves on fast, responsive service every day. We are always available 24 hours a day for any emergency pest concerns that may develop and all appointments are scheduled at times that are convenient for you our customer. If you would like further advice or to arrange a free inspection by an Ehrlich technician, call us free at 1-800-837-5520.