Like most places in the Golden State, San Mateo offers virtually year-round sunshine, easy access to beaches, and great food. One aspect of living here that many residents will be familiar with is the abundance of invasive pests that cause problems for homeowners. The Argentine ant is one unwanted guest that frequently invites itself inside San Mateo homes.
What An Argentine Ant Looks Like
Argentine ants are one of the smallest types of ants. The Argentine ant size for worker ants is typically under a tenth of an inch in length, and even the larger queen ants are around a quarter of an inch. These tiny wingless ants have varying shades of brown coloration, with antennae and legs that are proportionate to their body. Similar to odorous house ants, they will emit a musty odor when they are crushed.
Why Argentine Ants Around Your Home Is A Problem
While Argentine ants are primarily a nuisance pest and do not typically pose serious health risks, they are still extremely problematic if they have infested your home. These ants do not bite or sting people, but they reproduce extremely quickly and in large numbers at a time.
Like the vast majority of pests that enter homes, Argentine ants will primarily enter in search of a source of food. These pests are omnivores but have a preference for sweet, sugary foods. The bodies of Argentine ants have bacteria covering them, and they will contaminate food and spread bacteria onto the surfaces of your home. The nuisance of having ants crawling throughout your home and the threat of food contamination combined with their ability to reproduce rapidly can quickly create an overwhelming problem.
Practical Prevention Tips To Keep Argentine Ants From Coming Back
Although a full-on infestation of Argentine ants will require professional pest control services to eliminate, there are practical ways that you can protect your home from these problematic pests.
Simple ways to prevent Argentine ants from invading your home include:
- Properly storing food and promptly cleaning up any spills or leaks, which are frequent attractants for ants.
- Regularly emptying trash bins and ensuring that they seal correctly because they can provide a source of food for ants.
- Routinely inspecting and repairing any cracks in your property that ants may use as entry points.
Because Argentine ants can be so disruptive and problematic, it is vital to take any ant activity signs seriously and act immediately. Feel free to reach out to the team of Argentine ant control experts at Pacific Pest Management for more tips on how to keep your property free from Argentine ants.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Argentine Ant Infestation
While routinely practicing prevention strategies on your property is an important and effective part of pest control, it is still possible for an infestation to occur despite your best efforts. If you do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of dealing with an Argentine ant infestation, you will require professional pest control services to eliminate the infestation.
Luckily for homeowners in San Mateo, Pacific Pest Management is here to help by providing effective ant control to prevent and eliminate these invasive pests. Pacific Pest Management, a local San Mateo ant and pest control specialist, has been serving the communities of San Mateo and the surrounding areas for over seventeen years.
Our team of certified and highly trained pest technicians has experience in dealing with Argentine ants and the variety of other pests that cause problems for homeowners across San Mateo. If you have seen signs of Argentine ant activity in your home, don’t wait for the problem to get out of hand. Reach out to us today. We provide transparent pricing on our services and guarantee complete customer satisfaction and a pest-free home.