Hello World! Welcome Friends! Ants are among the peskiest pests homeowners deal with. Since these tiny inspects appear harmless, you may ignore them initially. The scary part is that they multiply faster than you imagine, and a full-blown infestation may just be around the corner after spotting a few ants in your home. They can be troublesome in more than one way, with sugar ants nibbling through food crumbs and the carpenter species destroying the wooden structures.
The worst thing about these pests is that they can be stealthy, so there is always a risk of them going unnoticed. But a little vigilance can save you from big trouble, as timely ant control is better than spending a fortune on a complete cleanup. You can follow these expert-backed recommendations on early detection through these telltale infestation signs. Here are the ant colony red flags you should worry about.
Sign #1- You Spot a Few Ants
Most homeowners tend to overlook a few ants inside or near their homes as one of nature’s things. You may not pay much attention as they seem harmless, but you must watch out for them carefully. If they seem to form a trail into your home or move up your walls, you surely have a reason to worry. These insects leave pheromone trails for others to follow and reach the food. A line of ants walking towards your doorstep or a specific opening into your living space is a sign to look for an ant infestation solution sooner than later.
Sign #2- You See Sawdust Trails
Small sawdust trails around your living space and outdoors are warning signs of an impending infestation. The concern is more serious as these heaps indicate the presence of carpenter ants, a species that feeds on wood. You will probably spot these trails near wooden beams, wood flooring, window ledges, and skirting boards. Implementing a carpenter ant control solution should be a priority because these insects can cause immense damage if you let them thrive in your home. Let an expert address the extermination project as they have the apt skills, equipment, and process.
Sign #3- You Notice Piles of Dirt or Soil
Another telltale sign of a possible infestation is the presence of piles of dirt or soil. These are likely in your garden or basement if it has a soil floor. You can easily overlook it as a heap of dirt, but it may actually be an ant nest. Likewise, a pile of soil on top of normally perfect grass or raised humps on your flat flowerbeds requires careful attention. Disturbing the nest is not a good idea because the ants may get aggressive. Look at the pile carefully and follow any movements inside to confirm your suspicion.
Sign #4- Your Leftovers Are Often Overrun By Ants
The easiest way to determine a potential infestation is to check the leftovers you accidentally leave outside. If ants are present in your home, they will quickly sniff the food and attack it. You may spot a huge colony feasting over the leftovers every time you miss out on packing them securely in airtight containers. They may even infest crumbs on the floor, dog food dishes, and trash cans. You must call a professional ant exterminator at the earliest if you notice such incidents a few times. A DIY job may sound tempting, but you may end up wasting money on expensive products that seldom work.
Sign #5- You See Discarded Wings
Some species of ants have wings for a short period. Such flying ants swarm during the warm months when young queens leave their nest for good and start their own colonies. You may see discarded wings on the floors near the doors and around the window sills. Although this is a less common sign of an infestation, it empowers pest control specialists with valuable information about the type of pest they need to deal with. They can devise an action-oriented extermination plan for success.
Sign #6- You Hear Rustling Noises in the Walls
Besides the visual signals, you may also hear some telltale sounds that indicate a potential ant infestation in your home. The best way to confirm it is by putting your ear to the wall and listening carefully. Rustling sounds are a surefire sign of the presence of ants inside the walls. These pesky pests can survive inside internal walls and even live between a wall and the wallpaper. You may notice small rips in your wallpaper, which work as the entryway for the ants.
Sign #7- You Perceive Hollow Sounds in Wooden Beams
A hollow sound in wooden beams is another auditory sign of ant infestation in your home. You may also hear the same sound while knocking on the wooden floorboards or exterior wooden cladding. The sound is the result of carpenter ants burrowing into wood. It is a grave problem because overlooking it can cause structural damage to your property and lower its value in the long run. You may not consider the problem as dire as termite infestation, but it is equally daunting. The best solution is to act quickly and prevent the problem from worsening.
Sign #8- You Notice Crumbling Wood Outside Your Home
Carpenter ants can weaken wood structures inside your home to the extent that they crumble on touch. But they do not spare the wood on your deck and patio. In fact, the damage can be more extensive because homeowners do not give much attention to the exterior areas. Ants can live in trees, specifically dead ones because they make easy targets. Moreover, they seldom have birds and larger insects that may prey on ants.
Although ants appear harmless, they can affect your home, health, and life in more than one way. Eliminating them from your living space should be a priority, so you must act when you notice the first signs of an infestation. Ditch the DIY mindset, and connect with pest control experts to resolve the problem and suggest measures to prevent a future infestation.
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Toodles,
I like that you pointed out how small sawdust trails around the living space and outdoors are warning signs of an impending infestation. I’ve been seeing quite a lot of signs of ants around our house lately and I think it might be due to an infestation. This should not be ignored, so I’ll ask for a carpenter ants pest control service immediately.