You expect ants when you're outdoors and enjoying nature, but seeing them in your home is alarming. These insects are a nuisance to your home and should be handled accordingly by professional pest control in Plano for home and business owners.
While there are many species of ants, acrobat ants are overlooked compared to carpenter or fire ants. However, acrobat ants present problems that impact your home, as well. Continue reading to learn how to distinguish acrobat ants from other species, the damage they cause, and how to prevent them.
What Do Acrobat Ants Look Like?
Acrobat ants are brown or black and range up to 1/8 of an inch long. The queen of a nest will always be slightly larger, about 3/8 of an inch. Like many species, their name often depicts their behavior or habits. For example, the unique feature that acrobat ants have is the ability to raise their abdomens over their heads. When viewed from above, the acrobat ant's abdomen appears heart-shaped. However, when disturbed, they will sting you with non-lethal venom.
Ant control in Plano provides barriers to your home's foundation that keep ants out. A professional pest control expert is the best way to implement new strategies that keep ants and other pests away from your home and property.
Why Acrobat Ants Are Worse Than Other Ants
Acrobat ants have little impact on your health but can cause significant damage to your home unbeknownst to you. When outdoors, their natural habitats feature nests in various places, such as under rocks, logs, firewood, decaying trees, and other loose debris. Acrobat ants are known to alert home and property owners of other pest infestations, given that they often nest in inactive termite mud tubes or tunnels crafted by carpenter ants. If the wood is soft enough, they can add to these tunnels and weaken wooden structures further.
Inside your home is where they begin to start problems. They enter homes by trailing along tree limbs and finding holes around windows and doors. They also use utility lines, wires, and pipes that lead to openings in your structure. However, once exposed to electrical cables, acrobat ants will strip them of insulation, resulting in short circuits and house fires. Additionally, acrobat ants produce an odorous smell when they feel threatened and will sting to defend themselves. Seek out trusted pest control technicians for ant prevention in Plano.
How To Prevent Acrobat Ant Reinfestation
Ants are more of a nuisance rather than a threat. However, ant control is still vital to ensuring that your Plano home remains pest-free. After all, ants are towards the bottom of the food chain and attract creatures that can threaten your home and health. We recommend following these simple instructions to help deter acrobat ants from your home and property:
- Seal entry points.
- Minimize moisture.
- Remove food sources.
- Trim vegetation.
- Store firewood away from the home.
Leaky pipes are also a huge attraction source for many pests. Repairing, replacing, or incorporating water run-off systems will go a long way in ensuring your home remains pest-free. For added protection, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for ant control measures that meet your needs.
How To Completely Get Rid Of Acrobat Ants In Your Home
Residents of Dallas know how much of a wild world surrounds our neighborhoods and communities. At All-Safe Pest & Termite, we strive to be a leading pest control company that continually ensures the safety of your home, family, and environment for the quality of life you work hard to achieve. Let us take some of the pressure off and secure your home with proper ant control that features Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to ensure your home receives the care it needs. Contact us today for a free estimate and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Plano.