Pavement ants, whose formal name is Tetramorium caespitum, are a common household pest that can be a pain if they get inside. These tiny pests often make nests in the cracks of sidewalks, driveways, and foundations. They then come inside your home to look for food. You need a good plan to keep your home free of ants. This guide will give you the best advice on how to keep sidewalk ants away.
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Make sure the environment is clean:
As a first line of defence, keep your home clean. Ants are drawn to food sources. This means wiping down the counters often, picking up crumbs, and putting food away right away in containers that won’t let air in. Clean pet food bowls after each use and close trash cans when not in use.
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Seal Points of Entry:
Pavement ants can get into your home through small holes and cracks. Check your doors, windows, and the base of your house carefully for cracks and gaps. Use glue or weatherstripping to seal them and stop people from getting in.
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Keep food in the right way:
Keep food in containers that are strong and don’t let air in to keep ants from getting to your storage goods. This goes for food for pets, things that may bring ants, and things that are used in the kitchen.
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rid of any wet spots:
Pavement ants need to drink water to stay alive. Fix any faucets or lines that are leaking, and make sure your home has good drainage so water doesn’t build up. Getting rid of water sources makes your home less appealing to these bugs.
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Thoughts about landscaping:
Cut back bushes and tree branches that are close to your house. These can be used by ants as paths into your home. Also, build a wall of gravel or stones around the base of your house. Ants might not want to build nests near your house if you do this.
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Maintenance and cleaning on a regular basis:
A lot can be done to keep pavement ants away with regular care. Make sure to sweep and mop the floors and vacuum the rugs on a regular basis. Also, keep the outside of your home clear of trash and food scraps.
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Plants that keep ants away:
Ants don’t like some plants naturally. As a natural deterrent, you could put mint, tansy, or pennyroyal around your house.
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Pest control by a professional:
If sidewalk ants keep coming back or if you want an extra layer of protection, you might want to hire a professional pest control service. Professionals in pest control know how to find possible entry points for ants and get rid of nests.
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Occasional checks:
Check the outside of your house often, especially the base and the edges, for signs of ant activity. If you find ant problems early, you can take care of them before they become full-blown outbreaks.
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Keep the outside clean:
If you want to keep pavement ants away, you should also keep your outdoor places clean. You should clean your yard, deck, and any other outdoor space you use often. Food and drink spills can bring in ants, so don’t let them build up.
In conclusion:
Keeping sidewalk ants away requires being careful and taking a broad approach. You can make your home much less appealing to these tiny invaders by keeping it clean, closing up entry points, storing food properly, and fixing problems with moisture. You can protect your home from sidewalk ants even more by doing regular checks and, if necessary, hiring professional pest control. This will keep your home ant-free.
At Ant Control Newmarket, we are well aware of all the risks associated with ants. However, when it comes to ant trouble, no infestation is too big for us. Our technicians are fully licensed and insure and know everything there is to know about ants, right from identifying the species to the proper process of exterminating them.