Ants are a common problem known to invade homes all over the country all year long. These tiny bugs will creep into your home and find a nice, safe place to build their nest and start their colony. Usually, this is behind your walls and inside of the insulation in your home.
At Beeline Pest Control, our Nashville pest control specialist can help you locate ant colonies in your home and eradicate them quickly. Here is a look at how to successfully handle an ant infestation in your home.
One Ant Usually Means More
Ants are social insects that commonly live in large colonies. Within each nest are three different groups, or castes, which include the workers, the males, and the queens. Most types of ants only have one queen that lives in the nest. All of the males in the nest have one job, which is to mate with the queen. Once they mate, the male will usually die shortly after. The rest of the female ants in the colony are the worker ants. These ants do everything except reproduce. The worker ant's job is to remove garbage from the nest, feed the baby ants, take care of the queen, forage for food, and build the nest.
When it is time to find food, the worker ant, also known as a scout ant, will leave the nest to find a viable source of food that will feed the entire colony. Usually, only a few scout ants will leave the nest at the same time. If you only see one or two ants in your home or crawling around your kitchen, chances are, you are seeing the scout ants. Once they find a food source, they will leave a pheromone trail that alerts the other workers. Once the other workers know where to go, you will likely see a trail of ants crawling from their nest to the food source.
The Health Risks Of An Ant Infestation
Ants are scavengers; instead of hunting for live food, they search for food that has already died or discarded. When finding a meal, ants will submerge themselves into some of the filthiest areas, such as garbage cans, animal feces, and dead carcasses. Throughout their travels, they pick up a wide range of bacteria and harmful pathogens that they could easily pass to you if they get too close to your food. Some of the harmful diseases and viruses that ants in Nashville are known to pass to humans include:
- Staphylococcus
- Streptococcus
- Salmonellosis
- Clostridium
There are also countless bacteria and fungi that could end up in your food if an ant walks across your plate, which is why quality ant control is so important. When eating outside or anywhere that has ant activity, make sure to watch your food closely.
How An Ant Infestation Starts
Ants prefer to live outdoors but will come inside if they think there is an easy-to-access food source in your home. They often pick up a food scent from outside and follow it indoors. If you have an open trash can that is heaping full of garbage, it could attract ants to your home.
The Best Way to Get Rid Of An Ant Infestation For Good
Ants can be difficult to eliminate because they can hide in the deepest, darkest crevices of your home. If you think that you have ants inside your Nashville home, don't hesitate to contact Beeline Pest Control today. We can get rid of the ants in your home and make sure that they stay away for good.