What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ants?

When it comes to ants, they are terrible houseguests. Not only do they infest kitchens, hang out in bathrooms and make a nuisance of themselves in other areas of homes, some even inflict damage if they’re not kicked out promptly. In this blog post, we’re going to look at a few of the most common types of ants in Colorado, explain why DIY ant treatments don’t usually work, and discuss the best way to get rid of ants, no matter the species.

Let’s start by identifying common house-infesting ants in Colorado

Whether you live in Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, or Northern Colorado, there are a few types of ants that always seem to show up in and around homes.

• Odorous house ants
• Sugar ants
• Pavement ants
• Carpenter ants

Although these ants are often found outdoors, inclement weather brings changes to their natural habitat, and other factors may cause them to move indoors in search of food and shelter.

The good news is they’re mostly nuisance pests…

Odorous house ants, sugar ants, and pavement ants are considered nuisance pests. They may forage on kitchen counters for crumbs and spills, hang out in bathrooms if there’s plenty of moisture, or show up in other places around the home, but their presence in Colorado homes is usually just annoying. They do not cause any real damage and they won’t spread disease.

Of course, there’s always an exception and in this case it’s carpenter ants. Unlike the other ants mentioned, carpenter ants in Colorado love moisture and infest water damaged or soft wood inside homes with the intent to create galleries for nesting. Over time, this can result in minor cosmetic issues to more serious structural damage.

Why Do-It-Yourself ant treatments don’t work

Sure, DIY ant treatments may seem appealing and may be easier on the wallet, but are they all they’re cracked up to be? We say no, and here’s why. Ant control products you buy at the hardware store tend to only provide temporary relief and may result in making the problem worse. 

Ineffective targeting
DIY ant treatments often focus on eliminating ants you see or their trails; they do not address the root cause of the infestation. Overlooking hidden ant nests and failing to target the whole colony allows ant populations to survive and rebound.

Incorrect product
If only all ant products worked for all types of ants, but that’s simply not the case. Identifying the right product for a specific ant species can be challenging; using the wrong one can be ineffective at best, or even worsen the infestation.

Lack of professional expertise
Ants aren’t considered the number one pest problem in the U.S. for no reason. They’re hard to get rid of! Not only that, they’re also persistent and adaptable. To really solve an ant problem, specialized knowledge of the pest and the product is required. That is something DIY treatments simply cannot provide, and most homeowners do not understand ant behavior the way pest control specialists do.

So, what is the best way to get rid of ants?

The most reliable, effective, and efficient way to get rid of ants that infest homes and other structures in Colorado is to engage the services of a pest control company. At EnviroPest, we offer year-round home pest control services that include:

• A thorough inspection to identify the ant species, locate nests, evaluate conducive conditions, and determine potential entry points
• Treatments that eradicate the entire ant infestation, not just the insects crawling out in the open
• Seasonal pest treatments that not only keep ants out, but also prevent other house-infesting pests from taking over

If you’re ready to get rid of ants and other pests that show up in your home during the summer and throughout the year, contact EnviroPest today!