Boise boasts a network of interconnected trails and roads that run through the hills linking neighborhoods with public lands. These foothills are said to provide a postcard backdrop that inspires and soothes the soul, but there is nothing soothing about having ants invading your place of business or the sanctuary you call home.
Common Ants Species Found In The Boise Area
Multiple varieties of ants can be found in the Boise area. Identifying these nuisance pests is the start to eradicating them from your property.
Common ant species in Boise include the following:
- Carpenter Ants: Averaging from ½” to ⅝” long, carpenter ants are usually red, black, or a combination of the two. They do not eat wood, but they excavate and leave tunnels that can pose a significant and costly threat to your property.
- Pharaoh Ants: These ants are about 1/16” long and are usually a pale yellowish to red color with a darker abdomen. When inside a structure, they typically nest in warm, humid areas near food and water sources.
- Little Black Ants: Also about 1/16” long, little black ants actually range in color from dark brown to black. When indoors, they can often be found in the woodwork, wall voids, decaying wood, masonry, and behind facades.
- Rasberry Crazy Ants: Ranging in size from 1/16” to 1/8” long, these ants are dark brown to black with a gray sheen. Being opportunistic scavengers, they like cracks and crevices in moist areas. Worker ants run in erratic, jerky movements.
- Odorous House Ants: These ants also range from 1/16” to 1/8” long and are typically brown or black. They give off a strong, rotten coconut-like smell when crushed. Inside, they inhabit wall voids, areas near hot water pipes, in heaters, beneath leaky fixtures, and inside wood damaged by termites.
- Argentine Ants: Ranging from 1/16” to ¼” long, these ants tend to be dark brown to black and shiny. They enjoy wet environments near food sources such as near water pipes, sinks, and potted plants.
- Pavement Ants: These ants are about 1/8” long and brown to black in color. They make nests in or under cracks in the pavement. Inside they can be under floors, in insulation, and within walls.
Why Is It So Hard To Get Rid Of Ants?
No matter what type of ant species you encounter in or around your property, getting rid of them on your own can be next to impossible. Colony sizes can range from moderate to very populous. Many species are highly adaptable, relocating nests easily when disturbed or displaced. Some species, like Argentine ants, can have millions of members and have been known to populate an entire city block!
Once inside your property, nests can be found inside wall voids, woodwork, masonry, behind facades, near water sources such as pipes, beneath leaky fixtures, and inside wood damaged by water and termites- in other words, places that are hard to reach. Over-the-counter sprays and traps are plentiful but will tend to only work on a small percentage of the population. They rarely get rid of an entire infestation and on top of that, they can also be potentially dangerous.
How To Prevent Ants From Entering Your Home
Ants typically enter structures when looking for sources of moisture and food. Preventative measures can be put in place to deter infestations.
Five prevention tips are as follows:
- Trim tree branches that can serve as access points into your home.
- Seal cracks and small openings that ants can use to enter your home.
- Eliminate sources of moisture and standing water that attract ants.
- Keep yard debris well away from your property. Many nests begin outdoors before coming inside.
- Keep home clean. Ants eat almost any food and love sweets and the smallest crumbs can attract them.
While these steps are helpful ways to deter ant infestations from starting, they are typically not enough to eliminate an existing population.
What Everyone Ought To Know About Owyhee Environmental
The only way to be sure your ant problem is completely rectified is by contacting Owyhee Environmental. We offer environmentally-friendly solutions, affordable options, and we warranty our work. Contact Owyhee Environmental today to take advantage of our same-day/emergency services.
