Did you know that the total number of ants at one time weighed more than the number of humans? Though we still share the planet with a million billion ants, it’s nice to know that our current population outweighs the masses of these creeping creatures!

Of course, if you’re squeamish about these crawling household pests, you may not see the “fun” in this fun fact. This is especially true if it seems like the entire worldwide population of ants is congregating in your home!

Before you start searching for “ant control near me,” however, we’re here to answer some of your questions. Let’s take a closer look at the ants invading your home, and what you can do about them.

How Do I Know Ants Are the Problem?

If you have an insect infestation, it can sometimes be difficult to identify the creeping culprits. However, there are a few telltale signs that ants are at fault.

The first sign, of course, is a visible ant sighting. This is most common in kitchens and around leftover food. However, in cooler weather, you may not see them quite as often.

Another common sign for homeowners includes visible frass. This is a fibrous, sawdust-like material. You may also notice ant colonies on your property, especially in your yard.

In addition, carpenter ants that have invaded the walls of your home may make audible rustling noises, which are most common at night as they work on their nests. If you tap on a wooden wall in your home and find it hollow-sounding, carpenter ants may be to blame.

What Kinds of Ants Do I Have?

Did you know that there are hundreds of ant species that live in the U.S.? Luckily, there are just a few common species that make their way into homes in this area!

• Carpenter ants: The most common ants that invade homes, these live in water-damaged wood
• Fire ants: With a painful sting, fire ants tend to stick to the areas around and outside of your home
• Sugar ants: Also called “odorous house ants,” these ants love leftover foods and sweets
• Crazy ants: Borrowing from their rampant running behavior when hunting for food, the term “crazy ants” describes this species well
• Harvester ants: Also called “field” or “thatching” ants, these ants get their name from the organic material they harvest to make their nests
• Argentine ants: Originating in South America, these are semi-rare in the Pacific Northwest but love to delve into damp environments

Depending on the species, you might notice different behaviors from these different types of ants. If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, a professional exterminator can identify the population on hand.

Do the Ants in My Home Bite?

If you do have an infestation on hand, you may not be sure how wary you should be. After all, are the ants in your home going to bite you if you get too close?

The answer is yes: all ants are capable of biting, but not all of them are likely to do so. Furthermore, only some ant bites cause some level of “sting” we associate with the bites.

Fire ants and harvester ants both bite, and they’re aggressive enough to come after anyone close to their home by biting them multiple times. These species tend to cause the most irritating bites across a wider area of skin than other species, so you may need pain relief if you come into contact with a colony.

Crazy ants, field ants, and carpenter ants, on the other hand, are more likely to bite in defense only when they feel threatened. In other words, these species may not bite you unless you’ve invaded their space or hurt them.

Can an Ant Infestation Damage My Home?

All ant infestations are nuisances, especially when these insects make their way into the common areas of your home. However, some species will also cause property damage.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, carpenter ants are the main species that cause this kind of damage. These species prefer moist, cool areas with decaying wood, and they will tunnel through wood to create their nests. This means they can eat through your property in certain cases!

Fortunately, because most infestations are noticeable enough for homeowners to alert an exterminator right away, it’s rare for a property to see extensive structural damage.

What Is the Professional Ant Extermination Process Like?

Professional exterminators will work to exterminate the full colony living within your home. To do this, an expert will use a number of different kinds of treatments, depending on the size and placement of the infestation.

• Bait treatments attract ants to bait sources that kill them after they feed.
• Spray treatments target colonies in a specific area around or outside of the home.
• Barrier treatments act as preventative measures that keep more ants from getting in.

The best pest control services will use organic ant control products that are EPA-approved and pet-safe, meaning you can trust these experts to safeguard your home without toxic chemicals.

Trust Us for “Ant Control Near Me”

The next time you’re frantically searching for “ant control near me,” avoid the stress of searching for a reliable company and come to us for the trusted ant control solution!

Our professional team has a wealth of experience providing extermination services to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest, and we’re happy to help. We guarantee expert treatments via EPA-approved products to rid your home of your unwanted guests. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact our team today.