carpenter ants damaging wood Central New Yorkers are fortunate to have an abundance of nature. No matter where you live, you’re likely a short drive from parks, rivers, lakes, and even waterfalls. Unfortunately, with beautiful nature come troublesome pests.

Ants can be found almost anywhere in the United States, including New York. They can easily get into houses and find food even when you think your kitchen is clean. Are you sick of dealing with these impossible-to-get-rid of pests? Here are some tips for keeping them out this spring.

The Ants Of New York

There are several species of ants that are common in the area. Among these are carpenter ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, and odorous house ants. Any of these ants can get inside and contaminate your food.

Carpenter ants are especially dangerous because they build nests and tunnels inside wood. They can get inside your walls and damage the wooden structures of your home. They are larger than other ants and can be reddish brown or black in color.
Pharaoh ants are also a pain because they are difficult to get rid of. These ants are skilled at budding, which is when a threatened colony splits into two or more separate colonies to avoid danger. Pharaoh ants are yellow or tan.
Odorous house ants are small black ants often found around homes. They are unique because if you crush them, they release a pungent odor that has been described as rotting coconut or overripe fruit.

Finally, pavement ants build nests around cracked cement, hence their name. They can be black or brown and often come into homes during the day to forage for food.

Ant Attraction And Effective Prevention

For any kind of ants, prevention is the best strategy. It’s much easier to keep ants out of your home than it is to get them out after they’ve come in.

In order to exercise good prevention, you need to know what is attracting ants inside in the first place. Ants are mostly attracted to food. They come into homes looking for sources of food, and if they find something, they stick around. Here are some ways you can stop ants from finding food in your house.

Store food in properly sealed airtight containers made of thick plastic or glass. Some ants can chew through plastic bags and cardboard boxes.
Store garbage in containers with lids. Take out the trash often and make sure it’s properly stored outside the home as well.
Keep pet food in a container with a lid or a well-closed bag. Never leave pet food out overnight.
Keep bird seed stored to prevent ants from getting in. Don’t put bird feeders or hummingbird feeders next to the exterior of your house.
Clean spills and crumbs promptly. At night, make sure you wipe under appliances to keep ants from finding crumbs.
Clean dishes at night after you’ve used them. Dirty dishes will attract ants and other pests that can find plenty of food left in the mess.

Eliminating Ant Entry Points

You can prevent ants by limiting their entry points. Although ants are quite small and can fit through the tiniest of holes, it will help to close off large entrance areas. Check the exterior of your home for cracks and holes, make sure screens are intact, and install door sweeps at each door to lower the number of ants that get into your home.

Total Ant Control

If you have questions or need help enforcing these tips, don’t hesitate to call Pestmaster® Services. We have the experience necessary to identify ant species and create unique solutions for each type of ant.

You’re not the only New York homeowner to wrestle with an ant problem, and yours wouldn’t be the first home we clear of ants. No matter what kind of ants are causing problems in your home, we’re more than happy to help.