Ants in Virginia Homes

Ants are a type of social insect and are commonly found living in and around Virginia homes. Ants live together in large colonies and sometimes have multiple nesting sites, making them a very difficult pest to eliminate. Along with being a nuisance, many species of ants can be destructive and dangerous. Protecting your Virginia home from common invading ants is important for the health and safety of your family and, in some cases, for the structure of your home. 

Type Of Ants in Virginia

While ants tend to look pretty similar, each species has their own unique wants, needs, and likes; knowing the exact species that has entered your home can help alleviate the infestation. Common species of ants found living in our area include:  

• Carpenter Ants
• Pavement Ants
• Pharaoh Ants
• Odorous House Ants 
• Acrobat Ants
• Little Black Ants
• Argentine Ants 

Are Ants Dangerous?

Ants, while typically thought of as nuisance pests, have the potential to cause many more serious consequences than just being an annoyance. When ants are living and traveling throughout a home they have the potential to spread bacteria and contaminate food sources with diseases that can make people ill. In addition to causing health concerns for people and contaminating food sources, there are ants that can cause structural damage to homes. 

How To Prevent Ants

If you haven’t noticed ants in your Virginia yard yet, consider yourself lucky! It’s only the beginning of warm weather, however, so as we continue toward summer, the risk of infestations increases. As ants reproduce, they spread and hunt for more food sources. While this happens, they may end up on your lawn. Here are 5 prevention tips to keep ants away from your home: 

• Keep lawns well maintained - Ants tend to prefer dry soil, so keeping the lawn moist and using mulch in gardens can deter ants from entering.
• Move compost piles - A colony is likely to build homes and nests where there’s a food source nearby. Compost piles are an excellent meal source for ants. 
• Cover your trash bins - Another food source is your trash. Ants will feast on a variety of human foods, so keeping the trash sealed tightly with a screw-on lid can prevent the feast.
• Prevent them from entering your home - Be sure to seal off any openings that are allowing them in. This could be small gaps around door frames, cracks in the foundation, or small openings around vents. 

How do I get rid of ants?

Ants can be especially creative when it comes to getting into your home, so you can be forgiven if you've had enough. And while their size gives them a clear advantage, there are ways for you to put the power back in your hands. But now you have to ask yourself: should I do it on my own, or do I need professional help? 

DIY Solutions

There are many DIY solutions that can be found on the internet, ranging from lemons, chalk, and sugar. If ants are so focused on sugar, then giving them acid or pepper is going to be a very unpleasant surprise for them Be cautious when using DIY chemicals and ant-killing products in your yard, especially if children or pets play outside. Some of these may be toxic and harmful to your loved ones. 

Professional Ant Control

Ant control is more than just ant spray indoors or traps laid outside. Sprays can't kill the queen because she lives far from the immediate danger.  Only an exterminator can take care of extreme populations in such a way that you can finally rest easy about who's in your home. If you need a little extra help, we offer pest control in Richmond and surrounding areas!

Contact RichPro Pest Management

If the ant control products you're trying just aren't working for you, it's time to look to someone with a little more expertise. Ants aren't just annoying; they're ultimately destructive to the home and the people who live within it.  You can trust us to use the most effective treatment to eliminate the ants that have invaded. Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach will only target the necessary areas to ensure the safest plan of treatment. Take a look at our pest control services and contact us today to get started.