It starts with just a few scouts sneaking in to scout for food. Before you know it, armies of ants have laid siege to your pantry. If you want to keep these pesky insects from crashing your pantry, you’ll need to take proactive steps. Thankfully, several ant management strategies have proven effective time and again.
- Seal Pantry Items – Ants are experts at finding even the tiniest entry points into packaging. Make sure all your foodstuffs are tightly sealed in airtight containers. Transfer cereal, sugar, flour, and other dry goods from their original packaging into secure lidded bins. This ant management strategy limits access to their favorite nuggets.
- Store Pantry Items Above Ground – Make sure edibles aren’t lining the floor where ants travel. Ants build nests underground and use the floor as their main highway. Therefore, storing your pantry items on shelves or in cupboards makes it harder for them to reach.
- Minimize Food Crumbs – Be diligent about cleaning up crumbs, spills, or leftover food debris. Even tiny pieces are enough to attract ant scouts, followed by the entire colony. Quickly wiping surfaces and vacuuming areas where you keep your food denies ants foraging material.
- Get Professional Help – If you feel your ant management strategies are still falling short, it’s time to call in the pros. An ant control expert can treat the entire house and locate outdoor colonies near your home. They’ll treat the problem at the source by eradicating the colony using special baiting techniques meant to target queen ants.
If you live in the Durham, North Carolina area and require an efficient ant management plan for your property, get in touch with us today.