Ants

Many species of ants can destroy structures, spread bacteria, and cause severe allergic reactions in extreme cases. That’s why it’s best to nip an ant infestation in the bud.

We deal with all types of ants at Green Piper, including:

Common black ants. Known also as the black garden ant, control of this insect is essential because of the damage it can cause to your flower and vegetable gardens. They can be found under flowerpots, landscaping bricks, and often in homes searching for food. Colonies can count tens of thousands of workers.

Carpenter ants. There are several species of carpenter ants, so it’s important to allow us at Green Piper to identify and treat the problem for you. They chew through damp, rotting wood to build their homes and tunnel systems.

Pavement ants. These home-invading ants are dark brown or black and can sting or bite—Winged members of the colony swarm in the spring. Colonies can be found under cement slabs, stones and sidewalks, you have probably seen trademark piles of dug-out sand. They scavenge sweet foods, grease and small seeds—yes the ones on the cartoons raiding the picnic.

Pharaoh ants. These tiny, almost see-through ants love to make their home in buildings. Some say they are the most hard-to-control household ant – don’t worry, we know how to handle them. They commonly infest homes, restaurants, bakeries and other places where sweet or oily foods are found. Call us immediately if you find these insects in your home.

A trail of ants marching across your kitchen floor isn’t necessarily a sign that you’re a poor housekeeper. Still, it indicates that you’re unintentionally providing a colony with a good food source.

Damage done by ant colonies depends upon the type of ant:

• Carpenter ant homes can damage buildings over time. They tunnel through any damp wood, often preferring your basement, bathroom, kitchen or shed.
• Pharaoh ants should be exterminated as they are disease transmitters. They can cause germs, such as salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus. A study from the National Pest Control Association reported that pharaoh ants were seen crawling near the mouths of sleeping babies. Yikes, these pesty insects are more than just a nuisance.
• Pavement ants aren’t known to cause structural damage to buildings; they often make their way indoors, making for an attraction for other inserts that eat ants and who likes ants crawling all over the place?
• Common black ants in your garden will spread the aphids from plant to plant to increase their food source. This behaviour leads to a garden full of damaged plants, making them susceptible to other diseases. Black ants can also tunnel through mortar and brick, leading to visible damage and structural problems.

While do-it-yourself methods can effectively eliminate the ants you see, the problem persists with the ants you don’t. Different ants also require additional treatments to remove them from your home or business permanently.

A quick search on the internet will result in many different home remedies for exterminating an ant colony from your home or business. Depending on your ant type and infestation, these methods may or may not work. That’s what we’re here for; we deal with all kinds of ants.

Preventative Measures

Although there may not be an at-home remedy to eliminate an ant and his thousands of relatives, you can follow some preventative measures. We apologize in advance for adding to your list of chores:

• Scout ants are earnest workers! Their only job is to find food and return to the colony with directions. If you see any lonely ants around your home, we recommend removing them and any trail they came in on and giving us a call for some ant control solutions.
• Seal or repair any cracks inside your house. Although this won’t stop ants from entering your house, it will leave fewer places for dust or crumbs to gather to attract them.
• Keeping things clean is the best way to prevent an ant infestation. Ants are looking for food to survive. If you keep food and debris away from ants, they do not need to come.
• Keep up outdoors. Keeping your yard clean, trimmed and free of weeds will help you notice ant mounds or any ant colonies living inside a tree. Give us a call — this way, we can deal with them sooner!
• Call Green Piper and sign up for our maintenance plan. Sadly, there’s no way to eliminate ants. If you are dealing with an ant infestation and choose to have us treat the problem, we may recommend follow-up visits to keep your home ant-free!