There are many different pest species that can make their way onto your Tupelo, Mississippi property, but ants are by far one of the most common. Ants frequently create colonies both inside and outside of area homes and businesses, and they can be extremely invasive.
While some of these ants are considered nuisance pests, others can cause problems such as property damage or health concerns. So, to help you identify different species, we’ve put together a brief guide to what they look like:
- Argentine Ants: This species is dark brown and generally considered a harmless pest, although they are known for being quite invasive. Their antennas have 12 segments.
- Fire Ants: This small, reddish-orange species is well-known for its ability to sting and bite. In some cases, these stings can lead to health problems. They have a small stinger and are about 1/16 of an inch long.
- Pavement Ants: These tiny black ants are best identified by where they live. They are usually found around pavement in nests made out of dirt.
- Carpenter Ants: Carpenter ants are destructive pests because they can chew through wooden structures to build their nests. They are dark brown to black and have large mandibles they use to burrow into wood.
Even ants that do not sting or cause property damage are likely to contaminate food and grow their colonies to unmanageable numbers.
Can You Remove Ants Using DIY Methods?
Whether you’re dealing with a dangerous ant species or a nuisance one, they can all be a big pain to remove once they establish themselves on your property. There are three main reasons why removing ants on your own is so difficult.
- Colony size and location: Many species, such as Argentine ants, are known for having thousands of individuals in their colonies. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate every single ant using DIY products. Plus, many ants will create nests underground or in other hard-to-reach areas these products just don't reach.
- Over-the-counter pesticides can be dangerous: While there are many products you can find at the store to remove ants, many of these sprays are either ineffective or potentially dangerous if you don’t know how to apply them. Ant traps can also be a poison risk for pets or small children.
- Their small size: Because ants are such a small pest, they can hide and crawl into and under so many difficult-to-see places throughout your property including inside of walls and under floors.
In general, DIY methods designed to save you time and money end up costing you more of both.
Why Professional Ant Control Works
Luckily, there is one sure way to both prevent and control ants around your home or business, and it’s with McCary Pest Control’s ant control program.
We start by assessing which species you are dealing with, and from there we make a treatment plan. Next, we use both liquid and bait treatments and ensure they are safe for you and others around you. Lastly, we provide follow-up appointments each month to keep any ants from coming back.
We even offer free estimates, so give us a call today to get started.
Three Ant Prevention Tips
Along with professional ant control services, there are also some measures you can take to help keep ants out. While ants can be difficult to completely prevent, these steps are helpful in deterring them.
Here are three of the best ant prevention tips:
- Remove food sources from your yard by placing lids on trash cans, cleaning up outdoor eating areas, and removing pet food.
- Clean up brush piles, woodpiles, leaf clippings, and other organic debris from your yard.
- Make it more difficult for ants to get inside by repairing holes and cracks in the walls and foundation using caulk and foam.
And remember, for help with ants and other pests, contact the professionals at McCary Pest Control.