When people think of ants, they usually don’t think about them being dangerous pests that can do any more harm beyond leaving behind some itchy bite marks. Some species of ants can give some nasty stings, but those are usually not the types of ants that live inside your home, so you don’t have to worry too much about them.
What you have to worry about, though, are pavement ants. These little pesky insects may not give you more trouble physically than a light pinch, but they can pose health concerns in other ways. In this article, we’ll talk about how pavement ants can harm you and your family, and how you should go about exterminating them.
Hidden Dangers of Pavement Ants
Pavement ants usually live in the ground, and they are nature’s dumpster divers. They like to crawl around your trash can and any surfaces that may have food on it, so you will most commonly find them in your kitchen.
Their legs will come into contact with dirty food particles, tracking bacteria back with them. When they crawl onto your food and utensils, they become contaminated with these potentially harmful bacteria.
One of the most dangerous diseases you can contract from these ants is salmonella, which is not something to joke about. The disease can cause intense vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, headaches, nausea, and high fevers. In the most severe cases, patients have to be hospitalized for weeks.
Identifying Pavement Ants
The worker carpenter ants are usually ⅛ of an inch long, and they can range from being dark brown to black with two parallel lines that run from their head down to the thorax. Other distinguishing features are the pale, bulbous antennae and yellow tint on the leg. During the mating season, you will see flying ants with similar features getting ready for their nuptial flight, but these flying ants are usually twice or thrice the size of a worker ant.
The females have a white spine run along its back. Once a female flying ant is mated, it will lose its wings and start building a colony.
The reason why these ants are called pavement ants is that they prefer to build their colony underneath the pavements, stone slaps, or sidewalk tiles. These ants can find a way into a building through the cracks in the wall or the smallest openings in the foundation of the building. If you can’t see the ants but you notice a lot of unexplained soil tracks and dirt particles on the floor, it may be a sign that your house is infested.
Pest Control Method
You can deal with these ants through many means, from DIY solutions to calling in a professional exterminator. Although some DIY extermination methods work fairly well, they’re not always recommended, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
If you unknowingly wreck their nest, they will simply relocate, causing the issue to be moved to another part of the house. What’s more is that if you use uncertified pesticide products, it may end up causing some health issues with your family members and pets.
If you’re looking for a professional exterminator to take care of the pavement ant infestation for you, Pest.Net.Au is who you should contact. We can provide consultations for any type of pest issues, and we offer the best extermination service at the most affordable prices. Contact us and see what we can do for you today!
Are you looking for a pest control service in Melbourne to help you get rid of any unwanted visitors? Click this link for ant control! We’re happy to help.