Should You Worry About An Ant Infestation In California?
Ants are social insects that live and work in large groups. Therefore, if you see one in your house, there are probably hundreds of them hiding somewhere. If you are from California and wondering whether you need to worry about an infestation, you should. Ants are among the most common household pests in California and a cause of concern for many people.
Ants can be a nuisance by crawling into your kitchen and invading your food. Certain species of ants can damage your property, too, such as carpenter ants. If you have been struggling with ant problems recently, there are steps you can take to prevent them from coming in. Contact a professional team from an Irvine pest control company today.
What types of ants are found in California?
Some of the common ants you can expect to see in California include the following:
Argentine Ant: They are like any other ant and are attracted to food and water sources. You can know of their existence in your house by the odor that comes once they have been crushed. You can prevent Argentine ants by sealing the entry points in the house.
Carpenter Ant: They are the most destructive species of ants found in California. They destroy your home’s wood and build their nests using the hollowed-out wood dust. It is important to treat a carpenter's ant infestation before they damage the wooden walls and other furniture.
Thief Ant: This species has got its name due to the fact they steal food from other ants and take it back to their own colonies. They are particularly dangerous because they live in large groups/colonies, up to 300,000 ants at once.
Should you worry about an ant problem?
California has plenty of ants for it to become a problem for homeowners. However, whether ants are dangerous depends on the species that has invaded your house. Many ant species do not cause any damage to your property nor spread diseases. However, some species are known to carry dangerous illnesses, such as salmonella and streptococcus.
Another species of ants, carpenter ants, can cause significant structural damage to your property by creating tunnels through the wooden furniture and walls of your house.
There is another problem that comes with ants. Insects have a strong sense of smell, and certain insects feed on ants. Therefore, if you ignore the ants in your house, you will soon be greeted by other insects.
To avoid the problem of ants from getting bigger than they already may be, call pest control services.
