Ant infestations are arguably one of the most common problems homeowners deal with. While these small creatures may be a common inconvenience, ignoring the problem could be hazardous to your health.
If you are looking for easy and effective pest control solutions for your Colorado Springs home, you have come to the right place. Our experts at High Country Pest Control can help you ensure that these tiny yet bothersome pests stay away from your property.
The Life Cycle Of Ants: How Ant Colonies Develop
All ants start as an egg. These eggs are incredibly small and often challenging to see with the naked eye. Once the egg hatches, a larva emerges. At first, the larva usually measures a fraction of a millimeter long and has a white, worm-like body that doesn’t have any legs or eyes. Ant larvae will need to eat a lot to grow big enough to reach the next stage of life, the pupa stage. During this stage, the pupa is usually encased in a protective cocoon, where it stays until its legs and other body parts form. After a few weeks, a fully-formed adult ant will emerge from the cocoon and take its place in the colony.
While our ant exterminators deal with several species of ants that all have different habits and behaviors, most ant colonies consist of three different castes, which include:
Queen ant: Most colonies only have one queen in each nest, but some species will have multiple queens. The queens are the only reproductive females in the nests, and their only jobs are to mate with the male reproductive ants and lay eggs.
Male reproductive ants: All male ants in the nests are reproductive ants. They typically have the shortest lifespan and usually die shortly after mating with the queen.
Worker ants: The other female ants in the colony are the workers. These ants are the ones that search for food, build the nest, feed the young ants, and take care of the queen.
The shape and size of a colony can vary greatly from species to species. However, all ant colonies usually develop extremely quickly, so you should never hesitate to contact an ant exterminator.
Assessing The Risk: The Problems Created By Ant Infestations
Sometimes, we underestimate ants because of their small size. However, if you have an ant infestation, you could have thousands of bacteria-covered insects crawling through your home at one time. If they get into your kitchen, they could contaminate your food with salmonella, E. coli, and other harmful pathogens.
The best way to prevent catching any dangerous ant-borne diseases is to contact an ant removal team at the first sign of an ant infestation.
Ant Prevention Strategies: Using Science To Keep Ants Out
Ants are likely to infest a home with reliable food and water and a safe place for an entire colony to stay. Because they are so small, they don’t require a lot of space to live. Typically, these creatures will nest in the insulation behind your walls or another hard-to-reach place. To keep them out of your home, make sure every small gap, crack, and crevice is completely sealed and blocked off. An ant control inspector can double-check your home to make sure there are no potential openings around it.
Expert Ant Control: Call Us At The First Sign Of Ants In The House
An ant infestation can get out of hand in an instant. Don’t let these small insects take over your home. Call High Country Pest Control professionals today to take advantage of our effective and comprehensive home pest control services to keep your Colorado Springs home ant-free.