Common Ant Intruders In Dallas Area: Prevention & Removal
There is nothing more frustrating than a pest. Whether it be an ant, cockroach, or mouse, knowing something in your home is very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, areas that see hotter or more humid temperatures are prone to these types of infestations.
In the Dallas area, the primary pests affecting homes are,
- Ants
- Termites
- Cockroaches
- Fleas
- Spiders
- Small Rodents
Although several different pests cause issues for homeowners in the Dallas area, some of the most prevalent infestations are by ants.
Types of Ants Affecting the Dallas Area
At first glance many types of ants look identical, however, there are a few specific types of ants currently wreaking havoc on Dallas properties. Many of them are very invasive.
Acrobat Ants
These ants are known for standing on their hind legs with their abdomen in the air as a defense mechanism. They are usually found around wood. Although they have a stinger, they rarely use it. They will often nest inside insulation, this can make them challenging to find and difficult to get rid of.
Carpenter Ants
These ants are also found near wood. They burrow tunnels through the wood to create their nest. Unlike termites, they don’t eat the wood. But the structural damage can still be just as serious. Usually, they are found in hollow trees. Once inside, they gravitate towards ceilings and inside walls where there is an endless amount of wood to nest in.
Fire Ants
This is an aggressively invasive species of ant. If they are disturbed the ants will swarm and attack with very painful stings. They are most commonly found outdoors, their nests are easily identifiable by a large mound and a hole in the center. They have been known to enter homes through HVAC systems or cracks in bricks or walls. These ants are aggressive and should also be removed by professionals.
Pharaoh Ants
This species prefers to nest indoors and is the most common ant found inside homes. They seek out warm hidden places indoors and once inside they are difficult to remove. They will forage far from their nests for food which makes locating their nest a big challenge. If you are experiencing an ant problem this is most likely the culprit.
Crazy Ants
These ants have very large colonies and will travel across very large distances for sources of food. They are an invasive species and often choke out other native ant populations. They can adapt to dry conditions, wet conditions, and will eat any available food source. This makes them very challenging to get rid of.
How to Get Rid of Ants?
Here are a number of ways that people try to address ant issues in their home or commercial property:
- Prevention
One way to get rid of ants is to keep ants out of your home in the first place. To do this it’s important to remove any scout ants you find that have gone in search of food. Keep dry goods in sealed containers, keep surfaces clean, seal off cracks outside the house, and control outdoor ant colonies around your home.
- Ant Traps and Sprays
Another method may be to spray the entrances to the home with an ant repellant. Also, placing bait traps around high ant areas is common. This will help deter more ants from migrating inside and help kill the ones that have already made it into your home. Spraying ant trails will a mixture of vinegar and water will also interfere with the ant’s scent that other ants follow.
- Professional Services
Professional services, like the ones offered by Sureguard, are the best way to keep your home safe from ants. We use a combination of preventative applications and professional removal services for existing infestations.
Having a professional spray around your home regularly will keep it protected from future intruders. If you have an existing nest, it’s difficult to remove the entire on your own by using products found at the hardware store.
Sureguard experts are better equipped to find the source of an ant colony or entrance point and will be able to help rid the problem once and for all.
The Ant Experts
Sureguard Termite & Pest Solutions has an incredible reputation in the Dallas area for getting the job done. We have been helping families and businesses with their pest control needs since 1967. You can trust us to solve your ant intruder problem so you can get back to living your life pest-free. Contact us today for a free estimate.
