It's a question that many Eureka homeowners have. Why are the ants flocking to your house? After all, you probably work hard to maintain a clean home. But ants don't only live in dirty homes. Learn why you might have ants and how you can prevent them from taking over.

The Ants In Eureka

Before you know what attracts ants to your home, it's essential to learn about the common ants in Eureka. The preferences of ants vary according to their type. For instance, a carpenter ant might seek a home with moist wood, while a pharaoh ant might seek out a house with sweets on the kitchen counter. Here's a closer look at some of the most common types of ants in Eureka:

Carpenter Ants

One of the larger local ants, carpenter ants build their nests in wood, but unlike termites, they don't eat wood. Instead, they eat other insects, meat, and pet food. While they don't have a strong preference for sweets, they sometimes eat sweets.

Pharaoh Ants

Small in size, pharaoh ants enjoy grease and dead insects. They also love sweets and often end up near sugary drinks. Unfortunately, pharaoh ants are known for spreading diseases to humans. When they get into your food, they contaminate it.

Odorous Ants

If you crush an ant in your home and notice a foul smell, you are probably dealing with an odorous house ant. They go after crumbs and other food in your home and can be challenging to eliminate.

Although the local ant species have different appearances and habits, they are all similar in that they are nuisance pests in Eureka. To avoid problems with ants, you need to take preventative measures.

Four Reasons You Have Ants

So why are there ants in your home? Typically, there are four reasons you're experiencing an issue with ants:

You Don't Seal Your Food Or Garbage

Without lids, your pantry food and garbage will attract ants of all types. Your pantry items provide plenty of food to ants. Even if you keep the food in original boxes, ants can still get in. For the best protection, store your food in containers with lids. You should do the same with your garbage cans, or food will always be available to these pests.

You Don't Deep Clean

So you clean your home regularly. That's great, but that alone isn't enough to keep ants away. If you fail to deep clean once every few months, crumbs will accumulate behind your oven and refrigerator. Get yourself on a strict deep cleaning schedule to remove crumbs from hard-to-access areas.

You Leave Dishes Out Overnight

After dinner, chaos often ensues. It can be difficult to find time to deal with the dinner dishes. Unfortunately, this could be why you have ants in your home. Greasy pots and crumbs in your sink attract ants into your home and give them reasons to stay around.

You Have Moisture Issues

A leaky faucet isn't just an annoyance - it's also a detriment to your pest prevention efforts. All ants need moisture to survive. By having drainage issues, humid rooms, and small leaks in your home, you make the conditions better for ants. One of the keys to keeping ants away is to resolve moisture issues.

You Don't Use Professional Pest Control

If you truly want to keep ants away, you need professional guidance. Here at Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions, our experts have what it takes to keep ants out of your home. If it's too late and you have an infestation, we can get rid of your pests. Call us to learn more.