The secret to ant control is understanding what ants eat, how ants communicate, and what paths ants take to get inside your home. You are the detective. Your job is to find the clues that unravel the mystery. We're going to help you do this. At Keller's Pest Control, we have a lot of experience with ant pest control in Bradenton. We know how the ants in our area think. Let's look at what works to stop Bradenton ants and how to get rid of an ant infestation.
What Do The Ants In Bradenton Eat?
Some ants have a sweet tooth and are attracted to sweet food sources. Some ants are carnivorous and will look for protein sources in your yard. Then, of course, we have the ants that don't care what they eat. They'll dine on pretty much anything in your yard. If you're looking to get control of ants, it helps to know what ants eat.
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Honeydew: Aphids, whiteflies, and scale insects create this food source. Address these pests to prevent ant problems as well.
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Nectar: Ants are attracted to a yard with lots of flowers. Addressing weed problems can keep ants away.
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Hummingbird feeder liquid: Sugar water is delicious to ants with a sweet tooth. Remove bird feeders or move them away from your exterior.
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Condiments: Ketchup, mayonnaise, sugar, and other sauces are highly sought-after foods.
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Candy and soda: Sweet things left outside attract ants from a distance.
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Grilled food: Keep your grill clean or put sticky traps at the base.
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Dead animals: Clean up carrion.
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Bugs: Reduce bugs by replacing exterior white lights with yellow lights and addressing moisture problems.
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Garbage: Keep receptacles free of strong odors.
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Food packages: Consider storing food in sealed plastic containers to keep smells inside and ants outside.
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Food stuck to dirty dishes: Put dirty dishes in soapy water.
Isn't it amazing the variety of things that ants eat? Let's look at how you can use this information for ant control in Bradenton.
How House Ants Find Food: Scouting And Gathering
When you find ants in your home, those ants have likely found a food source. You need to find that food source and remove it. If you have kids, you may have to inspect every inch of your home. Kids leave half-eaten apples behind the couch, chicken bones in wastepaper baskets, and candy wrappers on the floor. Since ants eat such a wide variety of foods, you'll need something to help you find these food sources. You may be able to let the ants show you. Follow the trails.
Ants in Bradenton leave a liquid pheromone trail when they head back to their nest. Find this trail and see if it will lead to you the general vicinity of the food source. Keep in mind that worker ants may create search patterns around a food source and you may find them crawling all around the area. They may not bring you directly to the food, so you'll have to guess what they might be eating.
What Happens If You Interrupt An Ant Trail?
When you find the food source and remove it, the next step is to remove the trail. The scent is bringing ants into your home. The ants will find another food source and keep driving you crazy if it remains.
- Follow the ant trail and see if you can find where the ants are coming in.
- Examine the exterior of your home for ant activity where it seems as though the ants are coming in.
- Use a vacuum to suck the ants up.
- Use soapy water to clean the area where you found the ants and along the trail they created.
- Spray vinegar and water where they came in.
- Use a caulking gun or a can of expanding foam to seal the entry point indoors and do the same outside.
It is as easy as this, but it isn't easy work. For help, contact Keller's Pest Control for service. We provide effective ant control in Bradenton and our technicians know how to keep ants out of your house after your initial ant treatment.
The Key To Keeping Ants Out Of Your Bradenton Home For Good
Ongoing pest control service is the best way to keep ants and other pests out of your home. At Keller's Pest Control, we use a multi-pronged solution for ant pest control. We may use some or all of the following methods.
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Repellent products on the inside of your home
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Exclusion work to seal off routes
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Liquid exterior treatments to stop ants from living near your exterior walls
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Granular treatments to reduce ant activity
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Bait applications to target and eliminate ant colonies
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Mound drenches to get rid of pernicious ants
Are you ready for a complete solution to your ant problems? Reach out to Keller's Pest Control for ant and pest control in Bradenton. Life is so much better without pests.
