Ant infestation in your Midland home can be a nuisance and disrupt your daily activities, aside from the health hazards it poses to you and your family. Homeowners find the sight of ant colonies very unappealing and bothersome, to the point that they even rant about it online.
Some will buy ant control home remedies, thinking they can perform the pest control process themselves. But what if you find out that they are not the most effective ant control products? Some pesticides cannot wipe out ant infestation, only lessen their number. Additionally, these pesticides are dangerous when not used properly. This is when you should seek companies with the right to administer ant control in your house.
Before explaining why a reliable and effective ant control service is essential, let us take a quick look at the basics of ant infestation in Canada.
Ants and Ant Infestation
Ants are social and closely-knit insects; that is why they come in colonies. The queen, the workers, and brood usually compose a colony, and each of them play a different role. They thrive in various places around the earth, such as forests, fields, cities, and even indoors. They are even identified as superorganisms since they behave like a single organism in surviving, growing, and reproducing.
Ants are one of the leading household pests in Canada. So, it is no surprise that many households are searching for experts on ant control in Midland nowadays. Ant invasion is common in Canadian homes, but what leads to their infestation?
During the autumn and winter months, ants are not usually seen inside or outside the house. Though ants hibernating during the cold season is not a proven fact, a published journal study attributes ant invasion to weather and not to the use of pesticides (contrary to popular belief). There’s an inactivity stage during the winter months since they primarily seek warmth and shelter for survival.
While absent when the temperature drops, an ant infestation is prevalent in the spring season. This is when they go hunting for food to store during their dormancy phase.
These are some reasons you need to consult experts in conducting the proper ant control at home before the winter ends. It is also to guarantee the prevention of these bothersome pests.
Types of Ants in Canada
There are 12,000 species of ants in the whole world, studies day. Ants are tiny and come in different colours, including black, brown, red, and yellow. Adult ants’ sizes range from 1 millimetre to as large as 13 millimetres.
Among the types of ants you’ll see in Canada are the following:
- Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants are 6 to 25 millimetres in size. Although carpenter ants are not good builders, they are known as demolishers since they can likely damage your building structure. - Pharaoh ants
They are 1.5 to 2 millimetres in size, and their colours range from yellow to orange. They feed on living and dead insects outside of your premises while they seek sweets and proteins indoors. They quickly move their colonies when disturbed or when their numbers have grown too large. Moreover, they are said to be potentially aggressive and dangerous. They usually nest in heated structures since they cannot survive outdoors all year round. - Pavement ants
They are 3 millimetres in size, and their colours range from brown to black. Pavement ants are not potentially dangerous, and they build their nests in cracked pavements or under rocks. Indoors, their nests are usually seen on walls and underneath the floors. - Field ants
Field ants’ size can vary from 4 to 8 millimetres in size. They are usually yellow, reddish-brown, or black. These ants build nests in the soil outside, in your lawn, while others live in firewood piles and bricks. They prefer feeding on sweets and dead insects. - Acrobat ants
They are 2.6 to 3.2 millimetres long, light-brown to black, and their shiny bodies usually set them apart from other ant types. But their most noticeable feature is their heart-shaped gasters that go upward when they are disturbed. They typically nest in moist and decaying wood. - Citronella ants
Citronella ants are 6.35 millimetres long. They are called “large yellow ants” because of their size and coloration. People can easily identify them through since they emit the smell of citronella when crushed. They prefer to feed on honeydew, and they usually enter buildings in the early- to mid-spring season. - Thief ants
They appear in a yellow, bronze, or dark brown colour range and usually are 0.5 to 3 millimetres long. Thief ants got their name from nesting near other ant colonies and stealing their food. They are identifiable through their smooth and shiny appearance. - European fire ants
Fire ants are probably one of the most dangerous kinds of ants in Canada since they produce venom when they bite. They are tiny and reddish, and these ant types do not usually stay indoors. Still, they build massive nests outside, making it risky to sit on lawns and yards. If you suspect the presence of fire ants in your property, seek immediate help from an organization specializing in ant control for your garden.
The Importance of Ant Control
Others say that ants will not result in significant health risks, usually seeing ants as parts of their everyday existence. But some of you don’t know that they can potentially harm you, your pets, and your whole family. Here are some of the reasons ant control you need ant control.
- Bites can irritate and infect
Ants bite you when they feel threatened. They may only cause a small amount of discomfort, which is not worrying for ordinary individuals, considering their tiny size. But what if they bite people who have unknown allergies and quickly develop infections, even if the wound is small? Or what if you forget to clean the bitten skin, which leads to irritation? This is one reason you need to seek services for ant control across Midland. - Certain types of ants can carry venom
There are ant types that produce venom when they bite. An example is a fire ant (mentioned above), which can result in a severe life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Fire ants are extremely aggressive when disturbed. They swarm and repeatedly bite the trespasser, resulting in a skin bump that lasts until 60 minutes. The itching, that occurs after the pain will last for days. To relieve yourself from the hassle of going to your doctor when the effects become severe, seek for ant services to implement an ant treatment for your yard and lawn. - They disrupt your pets’ comfort
When your home pets are affected by ant infestation, it makes it harder for you to quickly spot their discomfort and attend to their needs since they can’t speak. Additionally, your pets can see ants as potential food. They may even play with anthills, which will expose them to possible dangers. To safeguard your family’s and pet’s health, contact pest control organizations near you to oversee the ant treatment for your yard. - Ant infestation results in structural damage
Aside from termites, a carpenter-ant-infested home can encounter unexpected structural damages. Unlike termites that feed on the wood being destroyed, carpenter ants destroy wood structures to build their nests. It may take a long time to see the damage done since you cannot spot the ants due to their small size. However, when ant control is not immediately conducted, their colonies will grow significantly, affecting your house structural integrity. - Ants cause food contamination
Ants are not only harmful due to their stings and bites. They can also threaten our health since they can contaminate our food. This is especially true when an infestation is not immediately attended to. They can pass along germs and bacteria when they are roaming freely above our food and utensils. Some of these dangers are e. coli, shigella, and salmonella. They usually get these from trash and feces.
To have a livable and ant infestation-free home, the proper course of action is seeking immediate ant removal services near you. Don’t wait until you spot massive anthills inside or outside your home.
Protect your home and family from potential ant invasion and harmful pesticides! Should you find yourself needing ant removal services in Midland, contact Mr. Pest at 705-739-7378 for your appointment.