Ants Archives - Advanced Pest Control - Pest Control and Exterminating Services

Why Regular Ant Control In Hot Springs Is A Must

Posted on September 10, 2022August 17, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

The Importance Of Regular Ant Control Treatments

Many individuals don’t notice an ant infestation due to their small size, and many Hot Springs residents consider them a nuisance. However, ant infestations can be quite dangerous in terms of health risks and property destruction, which warrants the need for regular, effective ant control.

When ants get into your home, they bring bacteria and pathogens from other areas they have been; this increases your risk of illness as this pest scavenges and contaminates surfaces or food. Furthermore, certain ant species can invade the wooden areas of your home and tunnel away, presenting a risk of structural damage or collapse. All ants present bite risks and may trigger allergic reactions if you are not careful.

Proper, professional ant control treatments and regular maintenance is the best way to prevent all of the negatives that ants can bring.

Should I Kill Ants I See Around My Home?

While you can kill ants you see around your home, you may want to be careful with this. It is very likely that the ants you are killing are workers and can lead professionals back to the main ant colony, which is where you need to treat if you want to remove an ant infestation. Additionally, sometimes ants release a warning pheromone to other ants when killed, which may bring more ants into your home as they investigate the source of trouble.

Is It Safe To Spray Store-Bought Ant Spray In My Home?

Ant control solutions such as store-bought ant spray can be very hit or miss, and they generally don’t target the source of your ant problems, leaving your home prone to re-infestations and continued ant issues. And, of course, some store-bought sprays are not safe to use in your home around children, plants, or pets. How safe a product depends on the kind you buy, but it also depends on your application methods. Trusting a professional to put down ant control products is a much safer form of ant control in your house.

Solving Nuisance Ant Problems In Hot Springs

To help decrease your chances of nuisance ant problems, you can implement prevention tips such as:

Sealing cracks around your home’s windows, doors, and foundation
Addressing moisture issues that damage wood and create excess pools of water
Cutting back long grass and removing the leaf litter and other yard debris
Storing leftover food properly and disposing of trash promptly

And remember, whether it is ant control in your yard or the interior of your home, Advanced Pest Control can help you out. Our expert technicians are ready to identify your ant problem and provide you with safe, effective solutions that eliminate active ant infestations and deter re-infestations of this nuisance pest.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Advanced Pest Control at the first sign of ant problems on your property.

Fire Ants In Hot Springs Can Be Hard To Deal With

Posted on July 15, 2022August 11, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

What Do Fire Ants Look Like?

Fire ant treatment in Hot Springs starts with identification. Like other insects, fire ants have six legs and hard exoskeletons. They resemble other ant species from afar, but display unique characteristics, such as their black and red coloring.

Workers stand out with their armored midsections, round heads that are usually brown, and abdominal stingers that transfer alkaloid venom to victims. When a fire ant bites, it immediately follows it with a sting, leaving a burning sensation and red welt. Ordinarily, rising fire ant populations push winged ants out of their mounds for reproduction; afterward, males die while females lose their wings.

Fire ants fall under two categories:

Native Ants

Workers have uniform sizes
Red to black bodies
Mounds approximately two feet high

Imported Fire Ants

Brown to black bodies
Workers come in different sizes
Black and red compound eyes
Higher mounds, approximately three feet tall
Large colonies ranging between 100,000 and 300,000 members

If you suspect that your property has fire ants, contact a local pest control company for effective ant control solutions.

How To Kill Fire Ants Inside

You don’t want fire ants in your space for several reasons. For starters, multiple ants can sting you at once, causing severe reactions even if your immunity is strong. They also invade electrical equipment such as switch boxes, phone wires, circuit breakers, and air conditioners, resulting in malfunctions and electrocution.

You can prevent an ant infestation by:

Upholding cleanliness: Washing your surfaces and garbage cans prevents ants from entering your home looking for leftovers.
Proper food storage: Seal animal and human food containers and wash dirty dishes after use, because fire ants are always looking for food for their colony.
Sealing holes: Watch out for any broken siding, foundational cracks, and utility spaces that can welcome the pests into your home. Door sweeps also come in handy to keep pests at bay.

You should also hire an exterminator if ants have already invaded your home. Thanks to their wealth of experience, Hot Springs pest control services can flush the pests out of any corner and eject them for good. Furthermore, professional extermination methods don’t endanger household members or the environment. Professionals also find other pests you hadn’t previously identified and prevent a possible infestation.

How To Kill Fire Ants Outside Your Home

Fire ants attack your vegetable gardens and flower beds searching for food, water, and warmth. Here’s how to keep them out of your yard:

Clear dead branches and leaves from your lawn.
Don’t overwater the yard or use too much fertilizer
Cover garbage containers and compost bins, and relocate them from the lawn.
Store woodpiles away from your house.
Trim shrubs that touch your home to reduce ant access.

These simple prevention measures can help protect your property from fire ants. If an infestation occurs, be sure to seek professional assistance.

Sustainable Fire Ant Control For Hot Springs Residents

Effective fire ant control for your Hot Springs home starts with hiring a professional. Get in touch with Advanced Pest Control today for quality fire ant treatment in Hot Springs. We can safely and effectively eliminate the fire ants on your property – contact us today for your free estimate.

How To Get Rid Of Fire Ants On Your Hot Springs Property

Posted on May 30, 2022August 11, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

How To Identify A Fire Ant Infestation On Your Property

There are several different species of fire ants that live around the globe. Here in Hot Springs, the most common species is the red imported fire ant. This pest is ⅛ to ⅜” long, dark reddish-brown, and has a darker colored abdomen. You are most likely to find these bugs around dry areas of your yard that get a lot of sunlight. Identify a fire ant nest by its lack of a central entrance/exit hole. Another way to identify a fire ant nest is by accidentally stepping on it with bare feet and feeling tiny pinpricks of pain from hundreds of fire ant bites and stings! One thing to know about fire ants is that they can build nests indoors. They are most likely to do this during the fall and winter months or when floods roll through.

All The Problems With Fire Ants On Your Property

When you think about fire ants, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people think about the pain they cause with their bites and stings. The majority of the pain fire ants cause comes from the venom in their stings. Fire ant venom causes immediate sharp burning pain and is followed by mild pain and an itching sensation. If you are allergic to insect venom, be especially cautious around fire ant mounds in your yard. If you are not allergic and are attacked by these pests and are looking for how to treat fire ant bites, we recommend applying a soothing ointment to the affected area like hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion and then covering it with a dry and sterile bandage.

The Trick To Getting Rid Of Fire Ants On Your Property

If you are actively dealing with a fire ant hill in your yard and you need these pests gone fast, look no further than Advanced Pest Control. We offer detailed solutions to help homeowners around Hot Springs fight back against annoying, invasive, and dangerous pests. You will be hard-pressed to find a fire ant treatment in Hot Springs better than what we are offering. All you have to do is give us a call today!

Five Eco-Friendly Tips To Prevent Future Ant Infestations

Once you address a fire ant infestation on your property, your next step should be to put in place some preventative measures. Here are five eco-friendly tips to prevent future infestation.

Repair damage to your home’s exterior and fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in its foundation.
Make sure all of your window/door screens are in good working conditions.
Install door sweeps under all of your exterior doors.
Clear out a two-foot perimeter around your home’s exterior to keep it dry.
Remove trash, dropped food, and clutter from your yard.

Contact the experts at Advanced Pest Control to learn about our year-round pest control and discover how our Hot Springs pest control options can work for you.

Hot Springs Homeowners’ Useful Ant Prevention Guide

Posted on March 5, 2022August 17, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

Common Types Of Ants In Hot Springs

We have basically two types of ant pests in our area: Household ant pests and biting ant pests. Odorous house ants are an example of household ant pests. They get inside Hot Springs homes and make a nuisance of themselves.

Fire ant species are the ants that bite us in our yards – though those bites are actually stings. You can do much more about household ant pests than you can do about biting ant pests. Fire ants will live in your yard no matter what you do.

The methods used to keep household ants out of your home can prevent fire ants from accidentally getting inside and creating a serious problem. With both of these ants, ant control in your yard is the first step to getting control of ants in your home.

Why It Can Be Dangerous To Have Ants In Your Home

When considering what to do about ants, it is important to consider the level of threat. Odorous house ants and other household ant pests can spread bacteria and cause stomach illness, but the real threat is fire ant stings.

Fire ants present a unique problem for babies, some elderly people, the infirm, and individuals who have a stinging insect allergy. We recommend contacting a licensed pest professional to deal with ant control in your house if you have a fire ant issue that presents a threat to someone in your home. Don’t take any chances.

Six Eco-Friendly & Effective Ant Prevention Tips

At Advanced Pest Control, we know a lot about pest ants. Here are six of our best, eco-friendly prevention tips:

Fire ants can be drawn to meat, grease, oil, and other food options found inside a trash bin. Make sure your trash is in covered containers. If you notice that a receptacle has a bad odor, wash it out. That odor will attract fire ants and several other pest ant species.
Many pest ants eat nectar. A source of nectar that can take over your yard is little flowering weeds. Address weed problems to reduce this sweet food source.
Fire ants, and several other ant species, will feed on insects both alive and dead. If you alter conditions that attract insects, you can reduce the number of ants on your property. We recommend swapping out exterior white lights with yellow lights.
Address moisture issues. You can do this by cleaning your gutters, removing unnecessary vegetation from your landscaping, and watering your plants in the early morning.
Seal gaps and cracks in your exterior, particularly around exterior doors and utilities. This creates a physical barrier that helps to deter ants from getting inside.
Practice a high level of sanitation around and inside your home. This reduces attractive scents and helps to prevent worker ants from laying down pheromone trails that lead other ants inside.

These natural prevention tips can make a big difference. They may even be enough to stop indoor ant problems. If more control is needed, contact a licensed professional for ant control solutions.

The Most Effective Ant Control For Your Home

When you need ant control in Hot Springs, contact Advanced Pest Control for our residential pest control service. We use products and methods that effectively target ant colonies and eliminate them. This can stop ant activity in your home and keep ants out of your home all year long. Connect with us today to learn more or to schedule service.

How To Get Rid Of Ants On Your Hot Springs Property

Posted on September 17, 2021August 16, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

Types Of Ants Found In Hot Springs, Arkansas

Here are the ants common to the Arkansas area:

Argentine Ants – This invasive species comes from South American countries but has now found shelter in many parts of the world. These ants are brown in color. Anyone who squishes one of these bugs can notice a musty odor.
Carpenter Ants – Found in combinations and solid colors of red, brown, and black, this pest packs a painful punch. They can use their mighty chompers to bite and can also inject formic acid into victims. Properties can also be damaged by their unique ability to burrow through wood.
Fire Ants – This invasive species is one to watch out for in Arkansas. These reddish-brown ants sting anyone who disturbs their nests, and these painful stings can leave welts.
Little Black Ants – These ants may be the epitome of ruining that fun summer picnic. Picture a trail of them invading a freshly laid out red and white checkered cloth. These guys are dark in color and can be found in large numbers.
Odorous House Ants – Brown or black in color, these pests are attracted to water sources and sweet substances like fruit and honey. When crushed, these ants emit a foul odor.

DIY Methods To Eliminate Ant Infestations

Check out a home improvement store, and there could be dozens of options for how to get rid of ants on your Hot Springs property, but virtually none of them can lead to safe, effective removal of the entire colony that lasts. When homeowners try to tackle such a massive project, they don’t have access to tools and resources that work, they may not have all the facts needed to determine the best course of action, they could waste money on useless potions, they are treating only visible ants, and can unknowingly put themselves in harm’s way.

Keeping Ants Away From Your Hot Springs Property

With most pests, the best offense is a good defense. Here are some tried and true tips that will help keep ants out of your Hot Springs home:

Seal It Up: Close any gaps where these tiny pests can get in; caulk can be a homeowner’s best friend.
Divert Water: Ants need a water source. If there are no drips or leaks from your home, they will likely find this space inhospitable.
Pick Up, Clean Up: Don’t attract these nasty pests with even one morsel. Keep food sealed well. Vigilantly sweep, mop, and vacuum after wiping down counters and emptying the sink.
Maintain The Lawn: Eliminate any yard debris, maintain shrubs, use a cedar mulch if possible, and keep the lawn trimmed.

Advanced Pest Control Is The Permanent Solution To Your Ant Problem

Advanced Pest Control is a team that takes care of unwanted ants and pests on your Hot Springs property. Our qualified professionals have the experience and knowledge to diagnose any ant problems through comprehensive inspections. Then, they implement targeted strategies to keep ants away. With follow-up visits, the ants are sent packing for good. Contact Advanced Pest Control today to learn how we can help with our home pest control and commercial pest management solutions!

How Dangerous Are Fire Ants In Hot Springs?

Posted on July 15, 2021August 16, 2022 by Advanced Pest Control

Hot Springs residents are most likely to spot fire ants outside burrowed in dirt, but don’t be fooled, they can undoubtedly make their way inside your home as well. Fire ants are most clearly identified by the mounds that they construct above ground as a form of protection for their nests. They’re dome-like and can also resemble overworked soil. This is a pest that will explode out of their mounds and sting when threatened, and said stings can leave behind a slew of uncomfortable side effects.

The Dangers Of Fire Ants

Most people remark that being stung by a fire ant is one of the most unpleasant experiences due to the sheer pain of the act itself. While being stung by fire ants, there is a high concentration of venom going straight into your bloodstream. Fire ants will attack if they feel that their nest has been threatened or disturbed, making the chances of being stung in Hot Springs very high.

Each sting results in white pustules and red bumps and even causing side effects like:

Nausea
Sweating
Itching
Allergic reactions
In some very severe cases, death by allergic reaction

Fire ant stings are also extra dangerous to children and pets. What’s even worse is that fire ants attack in large numbers, making a seemingly small problem into a big one. Did you know that fire ant colonies can contain anywhere from 20,000 to 500,000 members? That raises your odds of getting stung by many ants, which can prove very painful, and even serious for those with preexisting allergies.

Getting Rid Of Fire Ants

Fire ants are a dangerous pest that you should not attempt to eradicate without the assistance of a professional. There are a handful of natural remedies often suggested, but none of them are truly effective in removing the entire issue that is plaguing your Hot Springs property.

An infestation proves to be difficult to handle because of:

Size. The size of a single colony of fire ants can be anywhere up to half a million ants, so while you may manage to eliminate some ants, you’re unlikely to make even a significant dent in a colony’s population.
Social factor. Did you know that a fire ant colony contains multiple queens? If just one queen gets left behind, that’s enough to start a new colony.
Recolonization. If a fire ant colony isn’t dealt with properly, the ants will create another colony elsewhere on your property.

Fire ants are a pest that can prove very dangerous to encounter and are nearly impossible to eliminate on your own. They may even prove deadly to those with preexisting allergies. The best way to handle a fire ant infestation is with professional assistance from the team at Advanced Pest Control. Call us today for an inspection to get started with our home pest control or commercial pest management services.

Category: Ants