Although ants may be considered summer bugs due to their prevalence in warmer months, ant droppings and other signs of ants may be noticeable in other seasons as well. Whether on floors or countertops, ant droppings are an unpleasant sight any time of year. Additionally, their presence points to a need for immediate ant pest control before even more ants infest the home. To help keep your sanity, learn more about ant droppings and other signs of ants.
What do ant droppings look like?
Ant droppings are typically small and darker in color and may look like a speck of soft dirt. Given the multitude of ant species in existence, ant droppings may vary accordingly in shape as well as appearance. Ant waste is also sometimes confused with the droppings of other insects. For example, the waste and damage of carpenter ants and termites may appear similar, although termite droppings are usually bigger, oval in shape and more uniform. No matter what kind of pest you are potentially dealing with based on the droppings that you discover, it is time to call an expert pest control company near you to help prevent an infestation or address an existing one.
Why should I worry about ant droppings?
As shared by Pestworld, there are hundreds of different types of ants in the United States. Some ants cause structural damage to homes and other buildings, like carpenter ants. Additionally, certain types of ants can sting, and ants, generally, may potentially cause food contamination and associated illnesses. Although they may not have the kind of reputation as a significant health risk that tick bites or mosquito-borne diseases have, the presence of ants can be dangerous for households. Consequently, seeing ant droppings is certainly cause for concern.
What are other signs of ants in addition to ant droppings?
Ant droppings and seeing the ants themselves or parts of them, like a wing, indicate that you probably have an ant problem. You might even be able to follow an ant, as it takes its familiar trails within your home or out into your yard. Additionally, carpenter ants leave other indications, such as piles of wood shavings or tunnels. Peak ant activity may even lead to sounds of their presence, like quiet whispering or rustling. Unfortunately, seeing one ant may indicate the presence of thousands more. Therefore, finding a pest control company like Eliminate ‘Em that can help you determine why ants are present and how to get rid of them is imperative.
Why are ant droppings appearing around my home?
Understanding why your home is attracting ants is critical for resolving the current issue and preventing an ant problem both now and in the future. After all, finding ant droppings isn’t as simple as cleaning up the problem. It’s also an indication that pests have access to your home and are interested in making it their home too. Here are two reasons that your home may be appealing to ants, as well as other bugs and wildlife:
- The availability of food and water: Ant droppings often appear where ants have accessed a certain area or where they have found delicious crumbs and food residue. In addition to other food sources like the garbage can or rotten wood, ants, rodents and other intruders may appreciate the availability of moisture from any leaks or areas that tend to have standing water.
- Accessible, welcoming shelter: While you may not be intentionally inviting pests into your home, cracks around doors or holes in screens may seem like welcome mats to various intruders. Especially after they see the food cartons left on the counter or the water dripping under the bathroom sink, they’ll be likely to stay and expand their populations.
What are some options for ant pest control and prevention services near me?
To avoid ant droppings, ants in your food and other unwelcome ant problems, keeping ants out of the kitchen and elsewhere in the home requires concerted and continuous effort. It’s not enough to be more attentive to cleaning the counters or setting a trap, although these steps certainly help! Instead, combine proactive care in the household with the professional pest prevention and ant control services available from local pest control experts, such as Eliminate ‘Em. While homeowners may make the effort to incorporate pest-repelling plants into their landscaping and be more diligent in eliminating what attracts carpenter ants and other types of ants, expert pest control providers can execute exclusion and abatement strategies and other steps such as basement cleanouts. To further help avoid ant droppings and other even more problematic signs of and damage by pests, contact pest control professionals as soon as possible!
Even though pests like ants may be small, the problems that they can cause may be sizable. Instead of trying to distinguish whether you have a carpenter ant problem or a termite infestation, let the experts at Eliminate ‘Em correctly diagnose and dispose of the problem for you. Our licensed technicians are available 24/7 and provide a range of services, including routine inspections as well as ant removal, mosquito treatments and other pest and wildlife control. Contact us or schedule an appointment today!
