Post Pest Control Q&A’s (Ants)

Why Do I Sometimes Still See Ants After My Pest Control Treatment ?

Ants are the number one urban pest in the United States. Ants are very different than most of the other insects and rodents that our preventative maintenance service can usually easily manage. Ant colonies can number in the thousands to millions of individuals. A number of different colonies may be around a home or business at the same time.

Ants in your house can be coming from a colony nesting in a neighbor’s, exterior perimeter, landscape or any other common area. They are able to travel long distances from the colony to get food. Because only three to seven percent of the colony is usually out foraging at a given time, killing the ants seen in a home at a given time probably won’t solve the problem.

Using a non-repelling insecticide or baiting for ants is the ideal control method. Using over the counter pesticides contain pyritherins that can drive ants into your home or cause ant colonies to facture off into multiple colonies making your ant infestation much worse .Because they are a social insect. The foraging workers return with the bait and feed the other colony members.

Unlike foraging workers, flying ants are reproductive and not interested in food. Unless the colony can be located and directly treated, which is usually not possible, they will continue to emerge until they have all left the colony for their nuptial flight. Due to the temporary nature of this problem, periodic vacuuming of the flying ants is advised.

Regardless of the best skills, methods and materials utilized, ant management can take from several day s to several weeks. Cleaning up ant attracting foods like sugary spills and pet food will eliminate competing food sources that can also delay getting results.