Odorous house ants aren’t the worst ant species you can get in your Fairfax home. That honor goes to the carpenter ant. However, the fact that these ants can’t knock your house down or sting doesn’t mean you should roll out the welcome mat. An odorous house ant infestation can stink up your home and contaminate your food stores and surfaces. Odorous house ant control should still be part of your Fairfax pest control plan.
Read on to learn how to stop this ant species from invading your home and how SPRK Pest Solutions can solve any ant problem hurting your property.
Do Odorous House Ants In My Home Mean It’s Dirty?
Odorous house ants don’t necessarily mean you’re keeping a dirty home. The problem might be as simple as leaving cookie plates or candy jars on the counter. Odorous house ants have a sweet tooth and are especially attracted to foods high in sugar. In fact, one of their favorite foods is the honeydew produced by aphids. You might have a garden full of aphids attracting these ants. Even though having an odorous house ant infestation doesn’t mean your house is dirty, there are still things you can do to prevent these annoying pests.
Will Odorous House Ants Go Away On Their Own?
Nope, these ants will not go away on their own. You can’t get rid of odorous house ants by just sitting around and wishing for it. However, dealing with an infestation isn’t always straightforward either. Odorous house ants are tiny, so it can be just about impossible to figure out how they’re getting into your house. They can also sniff out sugar like a bloodhound. If you’re not keeping your sweets locked up, these ants have reasons to stick around.
Another big issue with getting rid of these ants is how ineffective DIY ant control solutions are at combating them. Things like granules and sprays are not good at getting rid of an entire ant colony. Most of the time, these products cause the ants to simply move a short distance away. DIY products may temporarily reduce the ant population in your home, but they rarely eliminate the entire infestation. All these factors make prevention vital.
How To Prevent Reinfestation In Your Home
Since DIY ant control solutions are seldom effective, you’ll want to take preventative measures to avoid an infestation or keep one from returning.
The good news is there’s plenty you can do to prevent odorous house ants, as well as other ants, from infesting your property:
- Seal off all potential entry points like cracks in your foundation or holes in your siding.
- Keep all pantry foods, including pet foods, sealed in airtight containers.
- Cover all indoor and outdoor trash cans at all times.
- Vacuum and clean your kitchen and dining area frequently to get rid of crumbs.
- Never leave dirty dishes, including pet bowls, sitting out.
- Make sure you don’t have an aphid problem in your garden or landscaping that could attract these ants.
These simple lifestyle changes will work to keep ants at bay. However, they will have little impact on active infestation in your home. If ants have already made it onto your property, you may need professional help.
How Can I Get Rid Of House Ants Permanently?
If you just can’t seem to get rid of odorous house ants no matter how hard you try, you may need pros to help you figure out some permanent odorous house ant control solutions. Lucky for you, here at SPRK Pest Solutions, we’re the best in the Fairfax pest control business. We’re more than ready to step up and deal with even the most stubborn ant problems. Our treatments are reliable and ensure your home is clear of ants for good. Call or visit our contact page to get started today.
