Having ants in the kitchen is stressful. No one wants to see bugs crawling around while they prepare their food. Ants are not particularly harmful, but they are a nuisance all the same. If left to their own devices, they will get into your food and dirty it. Ants are capable of spreading germs, too, because they touch everything in their path. Thankfully, ants are some of the easiest pests to get rid of. All you have to do is find the causes of your infestation, then use the right bait. Call us if you need help. We provide ant control services in Oakville.
The little red ants in your kitchen are probably fire ants. These ants are bright red and only 1.6 to 5mm long. Like most bugs in Ontario, fire ants are most active in the summertime. They build colonies in the soil, especially in moist areas. Fire ants are omnivores that feed on honeydew, seeds, and other insects. They also like to eat dead animals, and they have been known to overwhelm live prey such as baby birds and rodents. Given their appetite for meat, fire ants have strong jaws and a painful venom. Disturbing a nest may result in a swarm of fire ants that will sting you repeatedly.
Since fire ants are a little more aggressive than other species, it’s important that you use a hands-free approach. Baits are fantastic for ants because they are brought into the nest for the queen. No need to bother the nest. Eliminating the queen like this will force the colony to stop growing and die out. Find a fire ant bait from your nearest hardware store and place it anywhere you have seen ants walking around, like the back of a kitchen counter. Place the bait out of reach of pets or children and give it about 2 weeks to work.
Fire ants, like other ants, are attracted to food. So, clean up the kitchen if you don’t want to deal with these bugs again. This will also help guide the ants toward the bait you set. Deep clean the countertops and the cupboards to get rid of every crumb. Don’t forget to clean underneath the oven, fridge, microwave, and other appliances. Get in the habit of cleaning these surfaces regularly. Avoid leaving dirty dishes out and store food in sealed jars and containers. Do everything you can to keep food out of reach and take out the garbage every night.
Ants are a nuisance that many homeowners have to deal with. If you find that you get ants every year, give us a call and a technician will perform an inspection. We offer comprehensive ant control services in which we find the entry points that are bringing ants into your home, seal them, then apply insecticides that eliminate pests and keep them from coming back. Providing lasting solutions is our specialty. Call us today if you have any questions or if you’d like to book an inspection.