We have several pest ant species in Snohomish, Washington. While they have many differences, there are a few things they have in common. You can expect them to build nests, search for food, drink from water sources, and accidentally get into your home. The five simple control tips we're going to provide today are general maintenance tips that work to counter the natural behavior of ants. Along with these, we'll describe how targeted ant control products fit into the pest control picture.

1. Exterior Food

The more ants you have around your Snohomish home, the more trouble you'll have with ants inside your home. That makes sense, right? If you want fewer ants around your home, you need to consider what attracts them. The first and most important attractant is food. There are many things ants consider to be food. Here are a few examples.

Exposed trash and dirty receptacles
Honeydew from aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects
Nuts that fall from trees
Leaf litter, leaf piles, and organic debris

2. Exterior Moisture

Once you've addressed food sources, you need to turn your attention to water sources. Water is essential for life. While it is impossible to keep your exterior free of all moisture, reducing conditions that promote moisture can have an impact on ant colony development.

Make sure your gutters are working properly.
Trim your vegetation to allow for good airflow.
Trim tree canopy in areas that stay shaded.
Water your plants in the early morning.
Remove objects that capture rainwater.

3. Entry Points

When ants explore your exterior, they find their way in through tiny gaps. It doesn't take much of a gap to allow an ant into your home. Some ants are 1/16 of an inch long. But there are some common entry points that, when addressed, do a fair job of deterring ants.

Damaged or missing door sweeps
Old weatherstripping
Gaps around foundation penetrations
Foundation cracks

4. Interior Food

Have you ever seen one little ant crawling around in your home all by itself? That is a scout. If that little worker ant finds favorable conditions in your home, such as food, it will let the other ants in its colony know. This can bring ants into your home in large numbers. It can also inspire ants to create an interior nest. Here are some of the things that can feed ants inside a home:

Garbage
Crumbs
Oils
Grime
Decaying organic juices on the floor
Food on dirty dishes
Pet food
Pantry food

5. Interior Moisture

Ants can be motivated by the availability of water. If you provide ample water sources, ants could decide to live with you. Here are a few examples:

A leaky faucet that leaves droplets in your sink
A leaky showerhead that leaves droplets in your tub
A leaking garbage disposal and a pan that captures the small amount of water that drips out
Condensation is left in your bathroom because you don't use the fan

How Targeted Ant Control Fits Into The Picture

It takes a lot of work to remove attractants around your home. If you don't have the time or energy, products can be applied around your exterior and near mounds in your yard. These products need to be appropriately selected. Treatments should be harmless to you, your kids, and your pets, and baits need to be desirable to the specific ant pests you're dealing with. It is best to have a licensed professional handle this.

On the inside of your home, it can be difficult to keep things clean and to control food sources. But you don't need to worry about this nearly as much if the exterior of your home has routine treatments and targeted ant control performed by a pest professional.

If you need assistance with pest control in Snohomish, reach out to Guard Pest Control. We can guide you in the process of finding the right solution for your specific pest concerns.