Ants: The Most Common Household Pests

Ants are the most common household pests that afflict households worldwide. There are numerous types of ants and they range in size, feeding habits, and preferred pest control methods. No matter what type of ant you are dealing with, one thing is certain. You will want to rid your home of these annoying creatures as soon as you notice them. One fact about ants is that they live in colonies, and often times, if you see one, there are soon to be many more to follow. Ants begin by sending out "scouts" to search for food. When they find a good food source, they report back to the colony and come back with an army of ants. The best way to treat ants is through prevention and quick action when you first notice them.

There are a number of different ants and you may find that you have to deal with more than one species during your home ownership. Some of the most common ants include:

Argentine Ants Fire Ants Ghost Ants Leafcutter Ants Odorous House Ants Pharaoh Ants White Footed House Ants Carpenter Ants Coastal Brown Ants Bulldog Ants

It is important to know the type of ant that is infesting your home before choosing a pest control remedy. There are different methods for treating different ants, so determining which ant you are dealing with is key to finding a successful treatment.

Using Ant traps is a valid way of removing ants, however, it is often possible that the use of the ant trap will alert other ants that there is a potential "food source" available. Ant traps often use a food source combined with a poison. When the ant scouts find the trap, if they are able to report to the other ants in the colony, the word can spread and other ants will come to the food source. If you notice ants, one of the most effective ways to treat them is by cleaning their line of entranceway. Using soapy water, continually wash their pathway and within several days to a week, they will give up and look for another source of food.