You probably don’t see ants as posing a threat. But ant infestations can be very troublesome? Ants are resilient and resourceful, making ant infestations hard to deal with. But you will be pleased to know that some of the most common causes of ant infestations are easily preventable.
The dangers of ant infestations
You don’t want ant infestations at home because of the health risks and the structural damage they can cause. The level of risk will also depend on the kind of ants infesting your home.
1. Bites and stings
Ant bites by themselves are typically not dangerous. But they can be health risks too if you don’t care for them properly and they end up being infected. Ant stings, on the other hand, are something many people are not aware of. Yes, certain ant species can sting, like fire ants. They inject venom into you. Your body can react negatively to this venom and trigger an allergic reaction. The reaction can be as simple as itchiness and swelling. But they can also be as dangerous as anaphylaxis, a life-threatening medical emergency.
2. Food contamination
Ants travel through your entire home, including the unsanitary spots in your property, like your bathroom, garden soil, and trash cans. They may contract germs and spread these on the food items that they touch. They can contaminate food with E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. Some ant species, like Pharaoh ants and sugar ants, can also contaminate your food with Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.
3. Structural damage
Generally, ant infestations don’t cause structural damage, or at least, the damage they cause is small enough to be negligible. But not all ant species are created equal. Some ants can do more structural damage than others. Be particularly wary of carpenter ants. They can destroy the wooden parts of your home as they use the wood to construct and improve their nest.
Causes of ant infestations you can easily fix
You don’t have to put yourself and your family at risk of these dangers. The causes of ant infestations are easily preventable. Here are some of the biggest causes of ant infestations at home you may have right now. But you can easily fix them with a few changes at home.
1. You have not sealed off all possible entrances
Ants don’t magically appear on your property. They come from outside. And they can come inside your home if there are easy passageways.
- Close the gaps between your doors and windows. Even if you keep your doors and windows closed, there are still gaps on their edges that are big enough for ants. Close these gaps with mats and weather strips.
- Seal all cracks and holes in your walls. Remember that ants are extremely small creatures. They will be able to get through the smallest cracks and holes in your walls, especially in the walls that lead to your home’s exterior. Seal these with caulk.
- Keep plants and tree branches away from doors and windows. Plants, tree branches, and other greens serve as bridges that connect the inside of your home to the wilderness. Make sure that no greens are near your doors and windows. If there are any, cut or move them so ants can’t use them as a passageway into your home.
2. You don’t store your food properly
This will not come as a surprise to you – ants are industrious hunters. If there are food and water products around, you are sure to find ants there. This is why you are not giving your home any favors if food and water are too accessible. You are basically asking for a pest infestation.
- Put your food items in tightly sealed containers. Make food products inaccessible by putting them in containers or refrigerators. Yes, this includes pet food. Food and water are some of the biggest attractors of all kinds of pests, not just ants.
- Fix plumbing issues. Dripping faucets, leaking pipes – you name it. Plumbing issues provide water for ants. There is a reason why these pests thrive incredibly well in bathrooms. Keep your home dry and free of plumbing issues to avoid attracting these pests.
- Practice proper waste disposal. Food and water don’t just come from your kitchen cabinets and pipes. They can also come from your trash cans. You can even argue that trash cans are extremely attractive because they are actually full of food and water products and they are warm enough to serve as shelter. Clear your trash cans consistently and keep them closed.
3. You don’t keep your kitchen clean
Your kitchen is another hotspot for ants. This is understandable because your kitchen is rich in food and water products after all. But these food and water products don’t have to be accessible to ants.
- Throw away food crumbs. If you leave even the smallest of food crumbs, you are sure to attract ants. And it’s easy to miss food crumbs if you are in the dining area or kitchen. The key is to clean up right after you eat. Give particular attention to countertops, tables, and the spots under them. These are the areas most prone to food crumbs.
- Wipe spilled drinks and stains. Spilled drinks are hard to miss. Of course, you will wipe them up. But droplets and stains are trickier because you think they are small enough to be negligible. But remember that ants are tiny. Even tiny pools of water can provide them sustenance. Wipe them up and dry the surfaces where you have found them.
- Wash the dishes immediately after eating. Dirty dishes are attractive to ants because they have both food and water. Make it a habit to wash the dishes immediately after eating to avoid attracting the pests. If you can’t wash the dishes immediately, at least clear them of leftovers to minimize the risks of attracting ants.
Ant infestations are preventable
Ants are not the first animals that come into your mind when it comes to dangerous and destructive pests. But they can be very troublesome. They can bite and sting. They can contaminate your food. And they can cause structural damage, especially on the wooden parts of your home.
It’s a good thing that the major causes of ant infestations are preventable. Just make sure you make your home inaccessible to the ants from outside and contain your food and water products properly.