Long Island Homeowners' Ultimate Ant Control Guide

Signs Of An Ant Infestation In Your Home

While you may see the occasional ant in your home, other signs indicate you've got an infestation and it may be time for you to take action with ant control in Long Island, such as: 

• Ant trails lead from one spot to another, usually located near kitchens, trash cans, or other parts of the home where the ants are trying to access food.

• For outdoor infestations of pavement ants or fire ants, you may see tiny piles of dirt around their colony or mound.

• Whenever you try to prepare or eat food, ants seem to swarm your countertops or table, looking for crumbs.

• There are tiny wood shavings around your home, which can come from carpenter ants and their destructive behavior.

• There seems to be wooden structural damage around your home or property, which could also be related to carpenter ants.

• There's an odd odor lingering around your kitchen or other areas of your house where ant activity is high.

If you're seeing ants around your home, you might be tempted to ask just how long do ants live? The answer is too long to wait them out. Some ants can live a year or longer, which gives them plenty of time to reproduce and grow their infestation in your Long Island home.

While you may see the occasional ant in your home, other signs indicate you've got an infestation and it may be time for you to take action with ant control in Long Island, such as: 

• Ant trails lead from one spot to another, usually located near kitchens, trash cans, or other parts of the home where the ants are trying to access food.

• For outdoor infestations of pavement ants or fire ants, you may see tiny piles of dirt around their colony or mound.

• Whenever you try to prepare or eat food, ants seem to swarm your countertops or table, looking for crumbs.

• There are tiny wood shavings around your home, which can come from carpenter ants and their destructive behavior.

• There seems to be wooden structural damage around your home or property, which could also be related to carpenter ants.

• There's an odd odor lingering around your kitchen or other areas of your house where ant activity is high.

If you're seeing ants around your home, you might be tempted to ask just how long do ants live? The answer is too long to wait them out. Some ants can live a year or longer, which gives them plenty of time to reproduce and grow their infestation in your Long Island home.

Problems Ants Can Create In Your House

Ants can cause multiple problems in your Long Island home, including:

• They're a nuisance pest. Perhaps one of the biggest problems people have with ants, regardless of species, is how much of a nuisance they are. If you've got an infestation, you might start seeing these pests everywhere – like near your trash cans, sinks, food, and anywhere else they think they might pick up food. 
• They contaminate food. Because they're trying to eat your food, it's only natural for ants to contaminate your pantry or counter tops, especially if you aren't properly sealing your leftovers or other items in your home. 
• Some species spread bacteria. Not all ants can spread bacteria, but some species, like pharaoh ants, are capable of contaminating your home with salmonella and other bacteria.
• They can be destructive. One type of ant in Long Island, the carpenter ant, is capable of causing structural damage to your home. They like to infest rotting or water-damaged wood and nest inside. They may not cause damage immediately, but over time they can cause significant issues.

No matter what type of ant is making themselves at home in Long Island, it is important to get them out as soon as possible to avoid these and other issues.

Easy & Effective Ant Prevention Tips

When it comes to how to get rid of ants naturally, here are some easy prevention tips you can employ in your house:

• Seal off any cracks or crevices around your home where these pests may enter your home and cause trouble.
• Don't leave any food sitting out, especially leftovers, sugary beverages, sweets, and proteins.
• Use garbage bags that don't have any holes or leaks in them, and pair them with lids that will close tightly.
• If you see ants crawling across your counters or tables, check for the rest of the ant trail to figure out how they're accessing your home.
• Keep up with regular housekeeping, like cleaning off counters and tables after meals and cleaning up spills.
• If you notice crumbs or other food scraps on the floor or carpet, make sure you sweep them up immediately.
• Clean any dirty dishes within the same day or night that you dirty them.

Preventing ants in the first place is always easier than dealing with an infestation later.

Long Island's Secret Weapon To Total Ant Control

While the tips above are a great place to start with ant control solutions, the best pest control for ants is by working with Long Island's secret weapon: A&M Quality Pest Control. We've got over a decade of experience combating infestations of every kind and size, and we're up to the challenge of dealing with the ants in your Long Island home.

If you're seeing some of the telltale signs of an infestation, don't wait for these critters to become more of a nuisance – contact us today at A&M Quality Pest Control to schedule an inspection of your Long Island home or learn more about our ant control services.