How Ant Infestations Start In Oahu Homes

Ants aren’t the biggest pests here in Oahu, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause big problems for Oahu homeowners. Ants can spread harmful bacteria, damage property, and inflict painful stings and bites. Even if they are simply nuisance ants, that doesn’t mean you want them living in your home.

If you are an Oahu homeowner, you need to know the effective ant prevention measures you can rely on to limit their exposure to ant infestations. Moreover, should your Oahu home become infested with ants, you need to know the reliable ant control solutions that you can turn to.

Identifying Ants Common To The Area

There are thousands of ant species in the world. Here in Oahu, however, we only need to worry about a handful of them. Some common, home-invading ants in Oahu include Argentine ants, little black ants, carpenter ants, and tropical fire ants.

Argentine Ants

These ants are dark brown and build large colonies that can become problematic for homeowners.

Carpenter Ants

These larger ants are orange-brown. They have large colonies and build their nests inside of wood which can cause costly damage for homeowners.

Little Black Ants

These ants, as their name might suggest, are shiny black and grow to be about 2mm long. They are mostly nuisance pests, but they will invade homes.

Tropical Fire Ants

These are orange or red. They are known for inflicting painful stings, resulting in burning sensations in the afflicted area. Stings from these ants can be dangerous, especially for those with allergies.

No matter which ant species you are dealing with, you don’t want them living in your Oahu home.

How & Why Ants Enter Homes

There are several reasons why ants might enter your home. However, the most common factors that attract ants are the availability of food and water. Therefore, if the food in your home is stored improperly, or you have food debris on your floors and counters, you could be attracting ants inside. Improper trash storage is another factor that will attract ants as this provides them with more food sources. Moisture issues in the home may also attract ants, especially carpenter ants that like to build their nests in softer wood damaged by moisture or decay.

Ants can enter your home through pretty much any opening available to them, including gaps around doors and windows, openings around vents and pipes, and cracks in the foundation. Given the number of ways ants might get into your home, sealing off all possible entry points is next to impossible.

Ant Prevention Methods For Your Oahu Home

It is difficult to seal off every entry point through which ants might gain access to your house. The best method of ant control is reducing factors that attract them:

• Store food in airtight containers or the fridge.
• Keep countertops and floors clean.
• Store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids.
• Take out the garbage regularly.
• Use dehumidifiers in areas with poor ventilation.

By reducing factors that attract ants, you should be able to limit your exposure to infestations.

The Most Effective Ant Control Solutions

If you do find yourself dealing with an infestation, contact the Oahu pest professionals here at Pest Tech Hawaii. We offer effective ant control solutions that you can count on to eliminate an ant infestation from your property.

Don’t let ants make their home inside of yours. Give us a call today to get started with an ant and home pest control plan that works for you and your property.