Ant Identification & Prevention

What You Need To Know About Ants

Ants may want to live in our Del Rio yards and homes, but that is something we cannot allow. Ants are annoying, and some can be destructive and dangerous. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Ants

What are ants?

Ants are those tiny insects with three distinct body segments, six bent legs, and short antennae that we regularly spot trailing through our Texas homes. 

The ants that you will find trailing through your Del Rio home or yard are likely one of the following species:

• Acrobat ants are small ants that hold their heart-shaped abdomen over their head when threatened.
• Carpenter ants are the largest ants to find their way into our Texas yards and homes. 
• Leaf cutter ants are brown, black, or reddish-brown, with long legs and three pairs of spines on their thorax. 
• Pharaoh ants are small black ants that thrive living indoors, taking advantage of controlled temperatures found inside. 

If you ever need help identifying the ants on your property, reach out to a local and knowledgeable professional. 

Are ants dangerous?

In our region, most of the ants that invade our houses are nuisance ants. They enter our homes in large numbers, are difficult to eliminate, and don’t belong indoors; however, they aren’t harmful to people or our properties. 

Examples of nuisance ants in our region are acrobat ants and leaf-cutter ants. While leaf cutter ants can bite, they aren’t aggressive and aren’t a significant threat to people. 

Though most ants aren’t dangerous, we do have dangerous ants in our region like pharaoh ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants. Pharaoh ants transmit disease-causing pathogens, carpenter ants cause damage by nesting inside structural wood or other wooden structures, and fire ants are aggressive and deliver painful fire-like stings. 

Why do I have an ant problem?

These omnivores live outside and often find their way onto our properties primarily because of the multiple food sources they offer. Ants gather food to bring back to their nest in trash cans, recycling bins, gardens, compost, pet food, grills, and outdoor eating areas.

As ants travel around your yard foraging for food, it won’t be long until they find a way inside, moving through small openings they discover in your home’s exterior. 

Where will I find ants?

Ants are active during the day. Workers are busy traveling back and forth from their nests to food sources and are quite easy to spot, wandering around almost any outdoor space, including our yards. 

Outside, some ants, like fire ants, prefer to build nests in open sunny areas. However, most ants shoot for more shady, sheltered locations. The soil next to foundations, cracks in the pavement, and under fallen trees, mulch, and leaf piles offer ants a place to nest. 

Though most ants enter our homes to forage for food and then leave to return to their nest, some will decide to stay and nest in your home. More often than not, ants like to nest near moist areas, placing their nests behind wall voids near pipes, vents, drains, sinks, and windows. Some ants, like fire ants, will invade and create nests inside electrical equipment; this is as problematic as it sounds! 

How do I get rid of ants?

Let the professionals at Gold Star Exterminators- Del Rio help you get rid of ants from your Texas property and implement the regular services to stop them from returning. 

Our trained technicians will thoroughly inspect and use the latest and most effective products and treatments to remove ants from your Del Rio property. We provide prompt service, are committed to our customers, and offer services at a reasonable price. Contact us to learn more about ant control in Del Rio or schedule a free estimate. 

How can I prevent ants in the future?

Here are some steps to make your property less attractive to ants and keep them out of your Del Rio home. 

• Always keep outdoor eating areas that you or your pets use clean and free of food debris.
• Regularly harvest and maintain garden areas.
• Keep lids on trash cans and recycling bins to keep hungry ants out. 
• Carefully inspect your home’s exterior and seal any tiny cracks or other entry points.
• Eliminate leaky pipes and faucets and use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels in your home. 

For assistance removing unwanted ants from your Del Rio yard or home, don’t hesitate to reach out; we are here to help!