Ants may seem harmless, but when they discover a way into your house, eliminating them can be hard. Such tiny creatures operate with military precision, follow invisible trails, and communicate through chemical signals. They can create colonies that can contain millions of ants. If you have attempted to control ant populations in your house but they still return, you are probably making some mistakes. This makes it essential to understand why ants are hard to eliminate and what you could be doing wrong. Also, you must know when to seek help from pest control experts such as those at Pointe Pest Control to end the invasion. Below are the primary reasons ants are never easy to eradicate:
Ant Colonies are Highly Organized
Ants act as an army. Every ant in a colony is part of a social structure. One scout ant may seem unessential; however, once it finds a reliable source of food, it creates a pheromone trail that other colony members can follow. It won’t be long until an army of ants follows this trail into your kitchen, trash can, or pantry.
Killing visible ants will not solve the issue. The real problem lies within the colony you cannot see. Usually, ant colonies are built deep underground, within furniture, or inside walls. Not eliminating the colony will allow new worker ants to replace the ones you eliminated.
DIY Products are Not Reliable
A lot of people use ant sprays once they find an army of ants marching through their houses. Although such products may kill some ants, they do not address the real problem. By spraying the ants you can see, you only eliminate a fraction of the whole colony, leaving thousands of other worker ants and the queen alive.
Sometimes, such sprays can worsen the issue. Some species of ants will split or bud their colony into several new colonies when threatened, exacerbating the infestation.
The Queen Has to Be Addressed
The ant colony’s heart is the queen, who is responsible for laying eggs. Without addressing the queen, she can continue to reproduce, letting the colony persist even if you have eliminated thousands of worker ants.
To effectively control ants, baiting methods should be used. These methods work by letting worker ants take back the bait to their colony and share it with the rest, including the queen. If done correctly, the bait can effectively eliminate the queen and the rest of the gang. Without the queen, the ant colony can’t sustain itself and will eventually collapse.
The Right Kind of Bait Must Be Used
Ants differ in their dietary preferences. While some are attracted to sugary substances, others prefer greasy foods and proteins. Using the wrong bait can lead to these pests ignoring it and searching for food elsewhere.
To target ants effectively, identify the species and choose the appropriate bait based on their feeding habits. You can place several types of baits and observe the ones the ants prefer if you are not sure.
It Takes More Than Just Sealing Entry Points
Some people think that sealing entry points will keep ants out permanently. Although blocking visible gaps can help minimize entry, ants are quite resourceful. These pests can squeeze through tiny crevices, enter through electrical outlets or plumbing lines, and climb walls.
The best approach against ants is to combine exclusion and elimination methods. Although sealing entry points is essential, it should be performed along with proper baiting and colony elimination.
Ants are Resilient
When ants face danger, they change tactics. If they no longer have access to a certain source of food, they look for another. If they detect a chemical treatment, they may become resistant to it over time. Such adaptability shows why one approach is not enough against ants. Effective elimination includes rotating bait types, taking preventive measures, and using indoor and outdoor treatments.
