Warm temperate areas like Tulsa can become excellent breeding spots for ants and other pests. The temperature in the city typically varies between 31°F and 90°F and rarely drops below 20°F. Various ants like carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, and other house ants cause severe tunneling and other property damage in Tulsa homes.
Seeking the help of experts specializing in pest control Tulsa can help prevent minor ant control problems from escalating into ant infestations. Besides causing property damages, ants can be mechanical vectors for harmful bacteria.
Hence, they can also trigger allergies and other vital health problems. There are several dangers to ignoring ant infestations in your home.
Common Types of Ants Found in Tulsa
To tackle ant infestations appropriately, you must first know about the common ant types found in Tulsa, OK, and the best ways to combat each of them. Predatory ant bites can cause severe itching and rashes.
They feed primarily on termites and other insects. Professionals with experience in pest control in Tulsa can accurately identify ant species present in your home and drive them away. These experts use insecticides and equipment to eliminate pests from your property.
Pharaoh Ants
These ants are usually yellow or golden brown and have almost transparent bodies. They are commonly found in grocery stores, hospitals, hotels, and other similar establishments. Pharaoh ants feed on food material, pests, and insects.
These giant ants can become a crucial problem in your home if they have access to food scraps, syrups, oils, and greases. The most significant risk associated with this ant species is that they carry and transmit diseases.
Field Ants
Also known as mount ants, Formica ants, and wood ants, you can identify these ants by their unique black and red colors. They usually invade lawns, gardens, and other outdoor areas and feed primarily on honeydew and other natural sweet substances from trees and plants. Although these ants are not considered problematic, their large colonies can cause landscape damage.
Carpenter Ants
These ants are one of the most destructive species. Tulsa gets an average of 43 inches of rain every year. While carpenter ants are typically outdoor ants, they could get into your home during rainy weather.
Carpenter ants like to set up their colonies and homes near puddles and other water sources in your home. Their sting can result in severe pain. Additionally, these ants can cause extensive damage to wood.
Odorous House Ants
You can identify these ants by the smell they emit. While they don’t bite or sting unless provoked, they can cause severe property damage.
Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are considered very dangerous because they can spread diseases.
Why Shouldn’t You Ignore Ant Infestations?
Ants are pests you should never ignore. All species of ants are capable of causing home damage. It takes knowledge of ant control techniques and on-hand experience to get rid of ants successfully.
Besides visible damages, they can also cause hidden structural damages to your walls and other surfaces.
Home Damage
Homeowners sometimes mistake winged ant species for termites. These pests can inhabit damp, dark areas like sink cupboards, shelves, and basements like termites. Ants tunnel through moist wood and other material to create extensive galleries that can even threaten your home’s structural integrity.
You may not notice them until the intensity of the infestation is noticeable. Ants have sensitive sensory organs and smelling capabilities that allow them to smell out food items.
They seek out sweets, carbs, and proteins and cause actual damage to your property in the process. Even comprehensive, daily cleaning may not be enough to stop the ants from entering your property.
Health Problems
Ant infestations aggravate quickly. They may even create secondary colonies in your property through the “budding” process. They can transfer bacteria and viruses from one person to another. Additionally, ants can contaminate food and foster growth, causing shigella, salmonella, E.coli, and other disease-causing organisms.
Food for Other Insects and Reptiles
It is essential to note that ants are food for reptiles like lizards. Insects like beetles, flies, spiders, and snails feed on ants regularly. These insects and reptiles can cause additional property damages and health concerns.
Tulsa has high humidity levels of around 77%. Hence, the city offers an ideal ecosystem for reptiles, insects, and rodents that feed on ants.
How can Professionals Help with Ant Infestations?
Professional help is practically crucial if you are dealing with an ant infestation. Specialists who have detailed knowledge of pest control in Tulsa can come to your rescue.
Detailed Inspections
It takes more than one visit from pest control experts to entirely rid your property of ants. The exterminators first conduct detailed property inspections to identify ant nests and ant queens to eliminate ants.
The experts will also try to assess the root cause for the ant infestation. For instance, if there is a garbage disposal site near your property, ant populations may colonize the area to feed on leftover food items and other elements. These professionals will first try to eliminate the root cause or source of the infestation if there is one.
Pest control experts may also trace ant colonies by following chemical trails that some species leave behind. Once they identify the cause, species, and type of infestation, the professionals will administer the appropriate treatment.
Insecticides and Fumigation Equipment
Ant repellents and insecticides like neonicotides available in the form of gels, sprays, tablets, and balls can help kill these pests effectively. It is critical to handle these chemicals and insecticides carefully.
Pest control experts may use mist sprayers and other fumigation equipment to kill ants in hard-to-reach areas like under shrubs and plants. Indoor ant infestations are easier to deal with than outdoor infestations.
Final Thought
While there are several DIY solutions to get rid of ants, it takes professional pest control experts to manage an ant infestation effectively. Ants are tough to get rid of.
You can also sustain bites and other injuries by attempting to eliminate large ant infestations without professional help. Pest control experts have formal training and use protective gear and equipment while dealing with ant infestations.
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