How to Properly Control Ants and Termites in Your Yard
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Ant Control in Kentucky consists of the most effective and efficient professional services in this state. Common home-invading pests in Kentucky include carpenter ants, odorous ant species, acrobat ants, road ants, and predatory ant species. The latter species is becoming such a nuisance on many levels, that it will surely be addressed in some depth later in this article. For now, however, we'll concentrate on the more common and less serious threats to homeowners in the state.
In most cases, the home-owner can control or eliminate ant invasions of this nature by employing non-chemical methods. Chemical control products are very dangerous, especially when used improperly, on humans and . Commonly used chemicals for ant control include: pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.
While some homeowners do attempt to deal with an ant problem by using chemicals, it should be understood that many other less toxic solutions are also available to the homeowner. One popular option is for the homeowner to simply make the home more attractive to the ants and other pests by fumigating the building and walls. Fumigation involves spraying fine chemical aerosols into cracks and crevices in the structure to discourage insects. The source of these products should be organic (not petroleum based) and non-toxic. Proper fumigation, however, should be performed only after consulting a licensed termite control contractor so there is no risk of harm to individuals or pets.
Other options for controlling ants and other pests include creating a more inviting environment by applying specially designed baits and other products. These products not only discourage ants from establishing an indoor habitat, they also discourage them from building and maintaining their colony in your yard or garden. Commonly used baits include sticky traps (sold commercially), sticky balloons (often sold in roll-on containers), and other devices resembling fruits or other common garden items that ants find irresistible. Another effective method of ant control is for the professional pest control company to use their power washer to eliminate subterranean colonies of ants in your yard or garden.
It is important to understand that when a professional service uses their power washer to kill the insects and mounds, they will also likely be reducing the population of the animals (including the queen). This is because the queen requires a large concentration of worker ants in order to properly care for the young, which are born and hatched within the colony. If those ants are killed, there will be fewer adults to mate with the females and take care of the young. In addition, if the workers are not removed, the colony will quickly become overcrowded and suffer from diseases and conditions brought about by having an insufficient number of mature adult ants.
Another option for homeowners who want to try an alternative method of pest control is the use of baits. Baits can be purchased in stores that specialize in natural or organic pest control products. In general, the baits you should use on your lawn should attract the Pharaoh ants that are prevalent in your area. Baits can come in many different varieties, including citrus fruit pieces, beans, sweet potatoes, spinach leaves, corn, melons, peas, collard greens, lettuce leaves, milkweed, raspberries, strawberries, and cranberries.
The best way to determine whether or not you have an ant problem is to take a close look at your yard or garden, especially if there is a thick layer of foliage on the soil. The reason why this is important is that ants will often build their nests near vegetation, such as in the stems of plants and in small cracks of the bark. Also, when there is a lot of vegetation in your yard or garden, it makes it more appealing to an ant that is looking for food. Baits are effective ant control methods, but they must be used in conjunction with a regular schedule of ants repellent.
If you want to get rid of ants and other termites from your property without using poisons, there are a few alternatives that you can use as well. These include foraging insects, which are beneficial foragers for your property. Foraging birds are another option that is good for bug control; however, they do not always stay around to feed. Lastly, you may also want to consider using plant viruses to get rid of pests in your garden. Although this method does take advantage of natural predators that you will find in your area, it is more effective when paired with baiting because the bugs are attracted to the plant viruses as opposed to the actual insects that forage on your property.