Few homeowners want to assign themselves the task of getting rid of black ants, but it’s likely to come up anyway. Georgia is renowned for pest problems because our climate here is so conducive to insect growth and propagation. It’s not just termites or cockroaches that terrorize Atlanta families either. Your basic black ant can become an overwhelming problem, scuttling across you while you’re sleeping, darting into your food and – in the case of carpenter ants – chewing holes in building materials. Over time, this type of damage can cause serious issues with stability and pose real hazards.

Keep reading to discover our top tips for getting rid of black ants:

Scrub Your Counters and Your Floors.

It goes without saying that pest control begins with a clean home, so please don’t be insulted. Scrubbing floors, counters and even the walls is important when you’re dealing with ants and has nothing to do with your hygiene levels. Any bit of open food in your home will attract the attention of bugs, even if it’s on the plate you’re currently eating from. The problem comes from how ants navigate back and forth to your home.

Black ants live in colonies where each individual has its own job. One colony can have thousands of workers charged with the task of collecting food and bringing it back home. However, there are scout ants too. Once the scout ants find your home, they leave scent trails from your property back to their colony. This allows the workers to easily find their way back and forth. Scrubbing removes those scent trails; so, along with scrubbing indoors, it may be to your benefit to treat the yard and patio.

Accurately Identify the Ants You’re Dealing With.

There are two types of black ants in Georgia. The first is the carpenter ant, and as mentioned, they’re responsible for significant property damage each year. Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to tell them apart based upon size. Carpenter ants are fairly large while basic black ants are 1/16 of an inch or smaller. However, if you’re having problems, a professional pest control specialist will quickly identify the ants on your property, as well as the best method for wiping them out.

Select the Appropriate Bait Products.

Bait is a tricky form of ant control. It poses as food, and workers collect it and take it back to the colony. From there, thousands of ants are contaminated, including colony queens. Depending on the bait, it can cure your infestation in a few different ways.

Unfortunately, the ant bait available on the store shelf is likely fast-acting, meaning there’s a good chance the worker ants won’t make it home. You need slow-acting formulas for baits to do the most good, and often these are regulated and only sold to professionals with the appropriate equipment and training. This is especially true for carpenter ant colonies, as there is one main living area connected to various satellite colonies located across a property. Without long-lasting bait, chances are you’ll never treat the root of the problem.

Are you in the process of getting rid of black ants? How is that going for you? If you’re struggling to clear up the problem, contact North Fulton Pest Solutions at 770-475-7419 to schedule a fast and affordable service call for getting rid of black ants.