Everything You Need to Know About Commercial Fire Ant Treatment

If you are one of those people who work effortlessly to keep their premises spick and span, then seeing a few ants marching about your walls, floors, and corners can ruin your day.

There are nearly a thousand different species of ants, with the most common ones in the US being carpenter ants, pavement ants, fire ants, harvester ants, pharaoh ants, and Argentine ants.

Apart from being a revolting sight, ants are notorious for damaging wood finishes and compromising structural integrity. An ant infestation can go beyond damaging your property to putting your and your employees’ health through the spread of harmful bacteria.

All in all, you don’t want to leave an ant problem unchecked. So, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you with commercial fire ant treatment and prevention.

What Attracts Ants to Your Commercial Premises?

So, the first question you’re probably asking yourself is how the heck do you have an ant problem? Ants don’t just come to your building for no reason. In most cases, they are attracted by:

Food Particles

Ants eat everything humans consume, but they are especially drawn to sweet things. So, they may invade your building because of food scraps you or your employees drop on the coffee counter, office kitchen floor, or any other surface within reach.

The problem is that once those few ants find crumbs of food, they leave a scent trail for the rest of the colony to follow.

Warm Shelter

Much like all other animals, ants also need warm and comfortable shelter to make their home. So, they tend to migrate indoors when the outside is too hot, dry, or wet. And because they are tiny, they can squeeze themselves in between your floorboards or within crevices and cracks in your building.

Carpenter ants and other ant species will drill through wood structures to make a home on your property.

Water

Another reason you may be having ants on your property is moisture. Though ants are tiny and consume little water, they need a lot of water for storage. So, things like leaking pipes and faucets, and potted plants can attract colonies of ants.

How to Know You Have an Ant Problem

Spotting one or two ants within or around your property don’t necessarily mean that you’re dealing with an infestation. The best way to be sure that you have an ant problem and need to take action is to look out for these signs:

• A large number of worker ants on your floor or surfaces
• Ant trails or pathways leading in and out of your property- mostly made of sawdust or food crumbs.
• Ant nests- usually a small mound of soil- in your walls or other hidden places
• Your wood finishes or structures are crumbling
• Hollow sounds when you tap your wooden beams
• Persistent rustling noises within your walls or beams
• Wings on your floors, doors, or window sills

Fire Ant Treatment and Tips to Keep the Pesky Bugs Away

If indoor ants have infested your commercial property, the best way to get rid of them quickly and effectively is to hire a professional pest control service. Fire ant treatment have the expertise, experience, and tools needed to ensure ants won’t bother you again.

That said, you can use other ant control tips to get rid of stinky and odorous house ants. These include:

• Placing ant baits- usually sweet pieces of food mixed with boric acid or any other substance toxic to ants- in the ant hotspots.
• Tidy up all food spills and messes quickly to avoid attracting ants.
• Store any ripe fruits in the fridge. As for other edibles such as crackers and sugar, airtight containers will do just fine.
• Emptying all bins in your commercial premises regularly. This applies to trash cans within and outside the building.
• Cleaning pet bowls as well as any spilled treats or water fast.
• Checking indoor potted plants for ant activity frequently.
• Keeping bushes, shrubs, mulch, and other organic materials at least three feet away from your commercial building’s foundation.
• Sprinkling a little bit of cinnamon or cayenne pepper if you have ants in highly-trafficked areas.
• Sealing all gaps, cracks, and holes in your commercial building. Ensure areas where pipes or wires enter the building are well sealed.

Tips for Keeping Your Premises Ant-Free After Getting Rid of an Infestation

Clearing crazy ants from your commercial space can be quite a challenge, so the last thing you want is for them to get back. Below are some great tips for keeping ants at bay after getting rid of an infestation.

Eliminate Ant Shelters

Ants find shelter in mulch, rock piles, woodpiles, tree stumps, disposed cardboard boxes, and other garbage so try to declutter your property.

Use Insecticide

Insecticide use is one of the best ways of killing ants and preventing a re-infestation. For the best results, be sure to use an insecticide that targets the specific ant infesting your commercial premises. If you are unsure of things, make a point of working with a reputable pest control service proficient in ant extermination.

An expert can easily identify the ant type in your place and determine the best locations to apply insecticide so as to avoid re-infestation. They’ll also set up bait stations to keep foraging ants from bringing back their colonies.

Use Ant Repellents

It would help if you used ant repellents to prevent future ant problems. Be sure to note the type of ant invading your property so you can get the most appropriate and effective repellent. You also need to consider the safety of your product, more so if there’s significant human and pet activity around your premises.

Do You Suspect That You Have an Ant Problem? Contact the Best Ant Control Service in Florida Today

If you have an ant problem in your commercial building in Florida, whether a new infestation or re-infestation, we are here to help.

We have a team of professional ant exterminators with over 20 years of on-the-job experience. Skymark Pest Services is a trusted and well-reviewed company, which means that we are the right people for getting rid of your ant problem. Get in touch with us today at 352-552-3290, so we can help you get rid of your ant problem!