Eliminating Termites from Your Home

From termites and roaches to mice and other rodents, keeping your home free of all pests can be overwhelming. Ants are a common nuisance for many homeowners. With over 12,000 different species of ants, distinguishing each type can be difficult. Sugar ants are one of the most common pests, but most people are not truly familiar with these insects. Using this guide, you will learn a few interesting facts about sugar ants and learn the best tips for preventing them from your home.

What are Sugar Ants?

You most likely have seen many types of ants around your home. From basic black ants that love moisture to fire ants that create unappealing mounds around your yard, these ants can all be problematic.

Known as close relatives to black ants, sugar ants look somewhat similar to these common pests. However, instead of a body that is all black, sugar ants have bodies that are orange and brown and heads that are all black.

Even though their name suggests they eat sugar only, sugar ants enjoy feeding on all types of food, decaying plant matter, and even dead animals and insects.

Prevention and Treatments

The kitchen is one of the most common areas for sugar ants because they can usually find food and food particles in this space. To prevent these pests from your kitchen, make sure all bags and boxes of food are sealed properly in your pantry, cabinets, drawers, and countertops. You should also clean up spills and crumbs as soon as possible.

Closing up any entrance points on your home's exterior is helpful for preventing sugar ants from coming into the home, but also protecting your home from other pests.

Walk around your home's exterior and use caulking or silicone to seal up cracks and openings in your crawlspace, siding, and foundation.

Also, remove any piles of clutter in and around your home, since sugar ants and other pests may use these areas as hiding spots or nests. Piles of dirty clothes, old newspapers, firewood, and project lumbar should all be cleaned up to reduce the risk of any pest infestation.

Lastly, ants and other pests are attracted to moisture, so consider waterproofing your home. Install a vapor barrier in the crawlspace or seal up this space to reduce moisture and humidity.

Sugar ants are not cute and sweet insects. This guide and professional pest control, such as from E & R Exterminating Company, Inc., will help you determine how and why sugar ants are coming into your home.