Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen
No one wants to wake up looking forward to their morning coffee only to find ants crawling all over their sugar bowl. Ants in the kitchen are a common problem for Suffolk County residents, especially as the weather gets colder. Ants move inside seeking food and warmth during the colder months.
Your house is a five-star hotel for ants; it’s warm, dry and full of delicious food. Suffolk County Pest Control wants homeowners to know that they can prevent an ant infestation in their kitchen.
Ants can be an embarrassing and persistent problem if they aren’t dealt with properly. You can avoid having to pay for treatments altogether if they practiced a few preventative measures.
Below is a list of ants that are common in Suffolk County and tips to help homeowners avoid living with these persistent little creatures this winter:
Pavement Ant
These ants make their homes in the nooks and crannies found in pavement, tar, and stone. They are likely to come into your home from your driveway or cement patio. Pavement ants have long black legs and have a harmful stinging bite. This is definitely not an ant you want setting up shop in your kitchen!
Rover Ant
These ants love sweets and most likely the tiny ants you might find around your cookie jar or sugar bowl. These ants are less than a ¼ of an inch long and are brown in color.
Ghost Ant
These ants are aptly named because their pale coloring makes them difficult for NY homeowners to spot. Ghost ants give off an unpleasant smell when crushed. You may find these ants roaming window sills and living in flowerpots.
Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants are brown to black and can be up to an eighth of an inch long. These ants do not bite as they do not have stingers. They are especially attracted to sweet foods and liquids that may be found in your kitchen. These ants are aptly named because they stink, their odor has been compared to the smell of rotting coconut. Be especially diligent to keep sugary foods in airtight containers to avoid an infestation of these little stinkers.
Pharaoh Ant
Pharaoh ants are particularly well-adapted to living indoors. These ants have translucent bodies with red and brown markings.
Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants are large and black with legs that are longer than their bodies. Carpenter ants can spell trouble for Suffolk County residents; these ants don’t eat wood like termites but will burrow into the wood structures of your home and remove wood.
Ants in the Kitchen: How To Prevent Them
Tips to Preventing Ants in the Kitchen
1) Cut off their food source
Keep tightly locking lids on all trash cans both inside and outside of the house, even the smallest crumb can draw ants into your home. Be sure to store food in airtight containers, go through your pantry and cupboards, get rid of half-opened boxes and bags as they will prolong an ant infestation.
Be careful not to keep food such as fruit and baked goods out in the open on countertops and tables.
2) Clean Often
Proper cleaning is huge in avoiding an ant problem in your home. Wipe up spills immediately, countertops should be wiped down and floors mopped regularly.
Clean out your fridge, throwing out old and expired items and wiping up any spills on the shelves or drawers.
3) Keep Landscaping Neat
Landscaping that sits close to the exterior walls of your home can be a perfect habitat for ants. Inspect any trees or shrubbery near your home for signs of ants or ant hills. Trim branches and shrubs away from the house when possible. Clear any piles of brush or yard waste away from the outside of your home.
Ants in the Kitchen: Ants Control Suffolk County
Suffolk County Pest Control knows that NY homeowners are busy. Sometimes even preventative measures can be difficult to keep up with.
Suffolk County Pest Control is happy to offer residents of Long Island, Suffolk, and Nassau County with preventative treatment.
If you find yourself already overrun with ants taking over your kitchen call Suffolk County Pest Control. They can walk you through your comprehensive pest control plan step by step.