If you see three or more ants, here are the ant problems you could have

Certain kinds of ants can cause worse problems than others, but all ants are a nuisance at best–and at worst, they can be dangerous for you, your pets, and your family members.

These are some of the problems caused by ant infestations:

Health Problems

All ants can cause health problems by tracking germs from the outdoors into indoor spaces. Some ants are also venomous and can cause painful or even harmful stings or allergic reactions among certain individuals. Young children and elderly people can be especially vulnerable to these sorts of issues. Venomous ants include the fire ant, the bullet ant, and the bulldog ant. Plus, the pharaoh ant can carry and transmit such bacteria as salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, and clostridium, all of which can cause antibiotic-resistant infections, especially in hospital settings. Pharaoh ants can also cause respiratory issues in humans due to their unique discharge.

Structural Damage

Ants, especially carpenter ants, can cause almost as much damage as termites to wooden structures such as decks, fences, and outdoor furniture, as well as indoor wooden structural components such as joists, lumber, and beams. This is because certain ants are very attracted to wood, to build their nests. Ants will chew through the wood in order to create tunnels for drone and worker ants. They will even chew through wires if needed. Over time, this tunneling behavior can undermine the structural integrity of the wooden structure that the ants chose as a nest site. This can pose serious, costly issues for homeowners and property managers.

Outdoor Issues

While indoor ant infestations are more likely to be seen as urgent and troublesome, outdoor ant infestations can also cause a unique array of issues and damages. For example, gardens can easily be decimated by ant infestations. The secretions of some ants can often attract other insects, such as aphids, which also can cause problems when they overrun an outdoor area. Field ants can cause major damage to lawns by displacing large mounds of dirt when building their nests. Army ants are known for aggressively chewing through anything that gets in their way.

Although ants may seem small and insignificant at first, if left unchecked an ant colony can quickly grow to overwhelm an indoor or outdoor space, causing a host of problems for homeowners and property managers to contend with. West Termite, Pest & Lawn is experienced with ant pest control, and our trained exterminators are standing by to deal with any current ant infestations you may be facing. We would also be happy to work with you to prevent future infestations. Contact us today to learn more about pest control in Oklahoma and Arkansas.