Ants are one of the biggest nuisance pests you could have in your home. The pharaoh ant is notorious as the worst species of ant to have in your South Carolina home and the hardest to get rid of. These yellow-colored ants will steal your sanity. But they don’t have to! Aiken Pest Control has the information, tips, and services for effective pharaoh ant control.
How Is A Pharaoh Ant Different From Other Ants?
Pharaoh ants have a unique color. They range from an almost translucent yellow to light brown. While they may be small at just 3mm, pharaoh ants don’t cause small problems; they cause big ones.
Pharaoh ants are social creatures. They live in densely populated colonies where each member has a specific job to do. Their queen can produce many hundreds of worker ants in her short lifespan of 12 months. All pharaoh ants have super-powered odor sensors that enable them to detect the smallest crumbs on your kitchen floor. When they find food, ants will leave a trail of invisible pheromones to signal to their colony where to find it. Before you know it, trails of pharaoh ants are marching right into your home and into the kitchen.
Pharaoh ants aren’t known to bite, but they can contaminate your food. As they're traipsing through your food, they can carry harmful bacteria that could spread foodborne illness. Want to hear something disgusting? Pharaoh ants are a danger to hospitals or nursing homes where ants have been known to crawl into human mouths. They go everywhere.
Pharaoh Ants In Your South Carolina Home
So, why are these ants coming into your home? Pharaoh ants are attracted by moisture and food. They will come inside your home for easy access to your pantry. Pharaoh ants especially enjoy pantry staples that are fatty or sweet. Meats, candy, honey, syrup, and your fruit drawer are all in danger. You could find handfuls of them swimming in your sweet tea or crawling across your bacon.
What To Do If You Have Pharaoh Ants
Don’t try to DIY your pest control. Why? Because pharaoh ants are notoriously difficult to kill. Over time, ant colonies have become resilient to most pesticides. Trying to exterminate them can signal the queen to make more ants! The ant colony will fissure, then you will have an infestation on your hands. So, don’t waste your time or money trying to get rid of pharaoh ants on your own. Contact the professionals at the first sign of pharaoh ant infiltration. Aiken Pest Control can help you tackle any pest problem.
Pharaoh Ant Prevention Tips
It is hard to prevent ants from getting into your home. But there are some tried-and-true prevention tips to use today to lower your risk of a pharaoh ant takeover:
- Clean up: Since ants have super sensors, regularly clean your dishes, empty your dishpan, and wipe off the counters. Sweeping and mopping will patrol those loose crumbs. And wiping down appliances and cabinets can eliminate grease spots.
- Control moisture issues: Ants love moisture, so take up the pet water containers. Be on the lookout for areas, like the bathroom, that need better ventilation. And fix any leaks as soon as they appear.
- Ant-proof your food storage: Have leftovers? Store them in airtight containers. Make sure your trash receptacle has a tight-fitting lid. Clean up any spills inside the can and empty the trash regularly.
- Seal up entry points: Ants can slip through tiny cracks around windows and doors. Seal up any areas around windows and doors with caulking and steel wool. Address places where utility lines might be.
That’s all the tips we have for you on preventing pharaoh ants. If you see one, call Aiken Pest Control. We can help you to become ant-free once again!