Eliminate Different Species of Invading Ants with Help from Toronto Pest Control

Despite their tiny size, ants can be a nuisance once they've made a place for themselves in your home, contaminating food or causing structural damage. Eliminating an infestation by yourself can be frustrating if you don't know how to handle the particular invading species or locate its nest. For residents in Toronto, pest control services should be enlisted to effectively remove these insects from your premises.

 While there are several ant species that can invade homes in Toronto, three are most common:

 Carpenter Ants

Among the largest ants in North America, carpenter ants build colonies in damp or rotten wood. Unlike termites, these insects don't eat wood; after gnawing into wood, they dispose of the shavings outside the tunnels. The shavings mixed with parts of dead ants are indicators of their nesting areas. A rustling sound may also be heard in areas of the house where they are active.

 When the colony is ready to build new nests, winged swarmers may emerge. This often indicates that the colony has long been established and may be difficult to remove.

 Pavement Ants

As their name suggests, pavement ants often nest underneath cracks in sidewalks and driveways. When these insects build colonies, they push debris out of the cracks and form visible mounds of sandy-looking soil. They may also establish colonies under the flooring and inside the masonry, woodwork, or insulation of homes.

 Pavement ants are often attracted to greasy food and the meat that people eat. Because of this, they may invade homes when foraging. Moreover, while these ants are rarely aggressive, they can sting and bite when disturbed.

 Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants often establish themselves around domestic food sources, such as kitchens. These pests are often difficult to control because they build colonies consisting of several widely distributed nests, which can displace other invading ants within their territory.

 Pharaoh ants are also of particular concern since they have been known to carry disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. into hospitals.

Reliable pest control Toronto services will take the species and behavior of invading ants into account to effectively remove them from your premises. Some of the techniques they may use include dusting, residual spraying, and gel baiting.

 To learn more, visit Icepest.com.