Having a bunch of pests, whether it's termites, roaches, or ants, can be an annoying occurrence for any homeowner. Luckily, there are pest control professionals that can help. According to Onedesk, ant gel bait is the most common pesticide formulation for ant control, 35% more common than the next most popular. Here are some signs that it's time to call pest control for an ant infestation.

Visible Ants

The most obvious sign that you have an ant infestation is by seeing them. Ants are communal insects, so if you see one, you probably know that you have several of them somewhere in your home. In most cases, you'll see ants crawling around areas where there is food, as that's what they're mostly drawn to. However, like any other pest seeking out food or water, they don't restrict their presence to the kitchen. If you have a habit of snacking in your bedroom, or you make the mistake of leaving some crumbs in the living room, don't be surprised if you see ants swarming around that area.

If you haven't actually seen ants lately, that doesn't mean they won't return. Ants can oftentimes easily return to a specific area. This is because ants will leave behind a pheromone trail when they travel. This allows ants to return to the scene. An experienced pest control professional will have the knowledge to remove these trails, ensuring the ants won't return.

Sawdust

You may be surprised by the presence of sawdust in your home when you haven't had any construction done recently. The presence of this sawdust can be left behind by carpenter ants as they burrow through the wood to create their tunnels. You'll often see such sawdust at the edge of wooden structures in your home. Unlike termites, they're not actually eating through the wood, but they can tear out wooden pieces to create a new home or tunnel.

Damaged Wires

Have you been having issues with your lights lately? Has your electricity been showing signs of short-circuiting for no reason? Unfortunately, you may have damaged wires due to carpenter ants. Just like these ants can damage wooden structures to create tunnels, they can also chew through the electrical wiring for the same purpose. Needless to say, you don't want any pests in your home that are capable of damaging your wiring. Call pest control services immediately to avoid further expensive damage to your electrical system.

Holes

Wood adds so much warmth and beauty to any home. Whether you have hardwood floors, wood panels on your walls, or wooden furniture, the last thing you want to see is damage. Imagine how you would feel if you began noticing a series of holes in your wood. Like we mentioned earlier, carpenter ants often target materials like wood to burrow in. Whether it's your wooden foundation, floors, fences, or window sills, these carpenter ants can be destructive. If you're noticing unexplained holes in your wood, ants are a very likely culprit.

Weak Fencing

A fence provides a great deal of security and safety around your home. Fences can help keep out intruders and stray animals. Plus, they also help protect your little ones and pets, because they help keep them inside the perimeter of your property. Therefore, it can pose a danger if your fence becomes weakened due to destructive carpenter ants. Like we mentioned, these ants love to chew through any type of wood, and they have no intention of sparing your fences. If your fences haven't been coated by a protective sealant, they can be susceptible to the damage of ants. If you're noticing structural issues with your fence, it may be due to ants.

Deck Issues

More Americans are enjoying the benefits of outdoor living. If you're one of them, then you understand the value a beautiful deck or patio can bring to your property. When your deck is made from stone or brick, you have an extremely durable material that ants can't penetrate. However, if your deck is made from wood, carpenter ants can have a field day if it hasn't been properly treated by a pest control team. Imagine what can happen if these ants are allowed to continue to wreak havoc on your deck over time. Do you want you, your family, or your friends to be in danger because the deck has become weakened by holes created by these ants? When your deck is damaged by such holes, it's likely because of pests such as termites or ants. If you don't handle the problem by calling pest control immediately, you may end up having to replace your entire deck.

Odors

You may not associate bad odors with ants, but it's a part of such an infestation. When certain species of ants are disturbed, it can create a musty odor. Imagine how bad such a smell can get if the infestation is allowed to get out of control. While ants continue to breed inside your walls, under your deck, or inside your window sill, you may have several colonies of ants living in your home. Protect your air quality and structure by calling pest control as soon as possible.

Itching

Do you sometimes start to feel itchy, like something's crawling on you? It may not be your imagination, because if you have an infestation of ants, they may be crawling on you. While ants continue to increase in numbers, you'll see them in various parts of your home in search of food or water. Don't be surprised if these critters sometimes scurry up your leg or your sleeve while you're eating something.

Moving Crumbs

Imagine coming into the kitchen or looking down at the floor and you notice a piece of food seems to be moving on its own. It's not your imagination, as it's likely an ant carrying a piece of food back to its colony. Remember, ants can carry several times their body weight. Therefore, if you see a moving breadcrumb, you can guarantee there's an ant underneath it.

Ruined Food

Have you opened up your pantry, a box of cereal, or a bag of chips, only to see that it's filled with ants? A simple crumb of food can be enough to attract a swarm of ants anywhere in your home. By practicing due diligence and sanitation, you can prevent attracting ants so that they don't continue to invade the rest of your food source.

Rustling Sounds

Ants are always on the lookout for food. If you have an open bag of chips or any type of package that has food in it, don't be surprised if you hear ants rumbling around inside of it. While their colony grows, you may also hear them moving around inside walls or trash cans.

Many homeowners often worry about rodents and cockroaches, because they tend to spread disease. While it's understandable to worry about those creatures, don't forget about the damage that ants can cause. Ants can create holes throughout various wooden structures in and around your home, which can cause it to weaken. In addition, you don't want to spend money throwing out food because of hungry ants. To protect your home and food supply, don't hesitate to call Mares Exterminating for your pest control needs. We look forward to working with you.