Riverside is home to a wide range of ant species. The types of ants that live in this area are invasive. If they invade your home, they can cause a lot of damage and spread illnesses to you and your family. If you are dealing with an ant infestation, we know all the steps to completely eliminate them from your home. At Green Flash Pest Control, we have been providing pest control in Riverside for decades, and we know how to deal with the ants that are common in this part of California.
The Many Different Types of Ants Found In Riverside
Several types of ants are native to Riverside. Some of the different species that you are likely to see around your property include:
- Odorous house ants: These ants are small and only measure 1/8 of an inch long. They have dark-brown bodies and love to consume sweet foods that are high in sugar. When crushed, they tend to smell like rotten coconuts, which is how they got their name.
- Little black ants: As their name suggests, these ants have small jet-black bodies that are only about 1/16 of an inch long. They are some of the most common types of ants found inside homes and are most active during June and July.
- Pharaoh ants: Pharaoh ants tend to have pale-colored bodies that are a combination of yellow, tan, and red. They live in extremely large colonies that can have several thousand members living together. They get their name from the mistaken belief that they were once responsible for spreading plagues in Egypt.
- Argentine ants: These ants have shiny dark-brown bodies that can measure up to 1/4 of an inch long. They originated in Argentina, but they are now throughout the world.
- Carpenter ants: These ants are likened to termites because they can destroy wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't use wood as their main source of food. Instead, they chew holes through various wooden objects to build their nests.
- Fire ants: This is one of the area's most feared types of ants. Fire ants have bright red bodies that make them easy to spot. They can both bite and sting people at the same time.
Most of the ants on this list are extremely invasive and will take over your home if you do not act fast to get rid of them.
Why Ants In The House Can Be So Problematic
Ants may be small, but they are still able to cause a lot of problems. During their lifetime, ants will pick up a wide range of bacteria and diseases. They can carry and spread these diseases to animals and people. Some of the illnesses that you can get from having ants in your home include:
- Salmonellosis
- E. coli infection
- Staph infections
- Streptococcus
Some of these ants can also be exceptionally destructive. If you have a carpenter ant infestation, you may notice hollowed-out wooden beams and other wooden objects in your home once a colony of carpenter ants has taken it over.
Why Are Ants Taking Over My Home?
Like all creatures, ants need food, water, and shelter to survive. Usually, you will have a few worker ants come into your home to search for food and water. They will alert the rest of their colony if they can find a viable source. If you see a long line of ants crawling around in your home, the worker ants have deemed your home a suitable place to live.
If you want to keep ants out of your home, make sure that all food is put away in either the refrigerator or an airtight container. You should also remove any standing water from your house; this includes thoroughly drying your sinks and countertops after using the faucets.
How To Get Rid Of Ants For Good
Because ants travel in such large numbers and can hide in some of the most hard-to-access places in your home, they can be incredibly difficult to get rid of. If you are struggling with an ant infestation in your Riverside home, Green Flash Pest Control can help you out. We know how to quickly and effectively remove all ants from your home for good. Give us a call today for a free inspection.