If you discover a swarm of little black ants in your home, you may be wondering how they got there. These pesky insects get inside homes wherever there is a food source. While they don't cause any structural damage, bite, or sting, they can contaminate your food if it's stored improperly.
Bait traps and natural preventative methods might not be effective depending on how large of an infestation you have. Learn more about little black ants in this informative guide and how Go-Forth Home Services can get rid of these pests for good.
Do Little Black Ants In My Home Mean It's Dirty?
Little black ants are typically a jet black color but are also dark brown. They are 1/16 of an inch in length, have six legs, and have two antennae. Like other ant species, they have a segmented body. They live in large colonies made of thousands of workers and several queens. Little black ants have stingers, but they are too weak to cause any harm to humans.
These ants will make their way inside houses that have a readily-available food source. If you store your food improperly or leave crumbs on the floor of your kitchen, you may be signaling to these unwanted visitors. Little black ants usually build their colonies outdoors but will nest anywhere with easy access to food and water. If you discover these pests crawling around your property, it might be time to schedule an appointment with an exterminator experienced in ant control solutions.
Will Little Black Ants Go Away On Their Own?
You'll see little black ants swarming the most between June and August. They're found along sidewalks and move to and from their food sources in lines or trails. They are also omnivores and feed on everything from plants to other insects. These ants prefer to nest in wooded areas but will also make their homes within woodpiles, rotting logs, and bricks. Inside homes, they're found in masonry, foundations, woodwork, and inside walls.
When little black ants build a colony on your property, it's not always easy to get rid of it. Most do-it-yourself ant pest control methods fail because they only kill workers. The queen of a colony will keep reproducing, so it's essential to eliminate the entire habitat for the problem to go away entirely. If these insects are lurking within your walls or underground, you'll probably have a tough time tackling the issue without professional assistance.
How To Prevent Ant Reinfestation
The best form of pest control or ant treatment is to make your home the last place these insects want to be. Here are several tips to keep ants away:
- Spray a mixture of soap and water where you see ants walking to remove their trails.
- Sprinkle black or cayenne pepper under appliances and near baseboards.
- Diffuse essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus, which are natural ant repellents.
- Vacuum your home often.
- Seal cracks and gaps in exterior walls
- Store food in airtight containers with locking lids.
- Don't leave pet food out overnight, and make sure you store it in a sealed container.
- Wipe down kitchen countertops frequently.
Despite your best efforts to make your home ant-proof, infestations can happen. Consider services from Go-Forth Home Services, a trusted source of ant control in Greensboro.
How To Get Rid Of These Little Black Ants Permanently
Local homeowners trust Go-Forth Home Services as one of the best pest control companies for ants. We've been a preferred provider of pest control in Greensboro since 1959. Our comprehensive service plans offer customized solutions to keep ants and other insects away from your home. Give us a call today to get a free quote.