Ants are frequent surprise guests in Atlanta homes. They can enter your home through the tiniest of cracks and quickly bring the rest of their colony. In addition to being a nuisance, ants can carry bacteria to food sources, chew through wood (carpenter ants) or deliver painful stings (fire ants).
Ants are attracted to food residue: trash, crumbs, sweet or greasy substances in kitchens, pantries and dining areas. If a few foraging ants find a great food source, they leave pheromone chemical trails for other ants to follow. Colonies can number up to 500,000 and can uproot and relocate quickly when threatened, and can establish new colonies in the walls of your home, in your lawn, or even under home foundations.
If you notice ants in your home, it is best to immediately call the experts before your ant problem gets worse.
Nesting: Nest outdoors under logs, concrete slabs, debris, and mulch
Location: Common throughout the southeastern United States
Carpenter Ant
Color: Typically black in color
Size: Roughly 1/4 to 3/8 inch in length
Nesting: Like to build their nests in hollowed-out dead, moist wood in trees, firewood, and fence posts. Inside, they build colonies in crawlspaces, wall voids, foam insulation, and eaves
Location: Common throughout the United States
Fire Ant
Color: Reddish brown in color
Size: Roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length
Nesting: Build mounds in sunny open areas
Location: Common throughout the southern United States
SEASONALITY OF ANTS: In a warm climate like Atlanta, ants are typically very active from Spring to Fall.
DIY Ant Control
Most DIY ant treatments deal with only the ants you see, not the source or the colony. Ants can live up to 7 years, and queen ants can live up to 15 years, so ant colonies have a relatively long life! Different types of ants and different types of ant problems require different treatments. Dealing with an ant problem is best left to the experts at Inspect-All, but there are several things you can do at home to keep from attracting new ants:
Sweep and mop floors frequently
Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink or on countertops
Don't leave pet foods out after animals have finished eating
Empty trash and clean trash area regularly
Rinse recyclables and store them outside if possible
Eliminate pooling water sources around the home
Trim lawn and trees/bushes so they are not touching the home
Seal cracks and crevices and ensure entry points are tightly sealed with no gaps
