Ant Prevention Tips For Elk Grove Homeowners

There are over 12,000 ant species in the world, and quite a few live in California. The two species you are most likely to encounter in the Elk Grove area are the odorous house ant and the carpenter ant. Ants are narrow insects with a hard exoskeleton and a body made up of three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. They have six legs, a set of antennae, and a set of pincers, which are part of their mandible. 
 
Carpenter ants are typically dark brown to black in color with bent antennae. Their heads resemble a heart shape, while their abdomen is an oval. On the other hand, odorous house ants tend to be brown or black with rounded heads and abdomens that end in a point. They are much smaller than carpenter ants and, when crushed, the odorous house ant emits a terrible stench. 

Now that you know what you’re up against, it is best to figure out what could be attracting these ants to your Elk Grove home. Carpenter ants are attracted to wet wood. They chew and burrow through the damp wood in order to create their nests. They prefer to build their nest in between walls or beneath floorboards. Once inside, carpenter ants will continue to chew, as they are instinctually driven to continue growing their home. 
 
Odorous house ants are attracted to food, particularly sugar; in fact, some people even call odorous house ants sugar ants. Odorous house ants will move their nests as often as needed in order to be close to their food source, even if that means moving into your Elk Grove home.
 
Both species of ant are attracted to yard debris. Leaf litter, logs, boards, and dense vegetation are all welcome signs to ants. Pet food and animal feed, crumbs, and standing water also attract ants to your property.

There are a few tips that could help Elk Grove residents stop an ant infestation before it even begins:

However, it is important to remember that while these steps can make your home as unappealing as possible to ants, it still may not be enough to fully prevent them. For complete protection for your Elk Grove home, you’ll need the security that only professional ant control can provide. 

If your home is already past the prevention stage, there is still hope for pest control for your Elk Grove home. The surefire way to get rid of pesky ants is to partner with a professional like Patriot Pest Management. Patriot Pest Management is family-owned and family-operated; we are equipped with more than 20 years of service and knowledge to help get your home pest-free. For your ant problem, Patriot Pest Management inspects your home and puts together a treatment plan that is customized to your particular home’s problem. Not only do we offer year-round treatments, but we also offer follow-ups to ensure that you are well taken care of. Give Patriot Pest Management a call today!