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We Stop Ants Before They Come Marching Into Your Home

Our ant exterminator service is one of the most popular treatments for homeowners in the Seattle, WA, metro area. Ants like to socialize. If you see one ant near your home, it usually means more lurking nearby. The effective way to get rid of an ant problem is by going to the source of the problem, which means you need to find and treat the colony. Usually, there are multiple satellite ant colonies, which makes treating ants difficult as you kill one, but they will come back.

We have been eliminating ant problems in the Seattle area since 1981. There is not one issue our pest control technicians have not been able to solve. With over 100,000 satisfied residential clients, you can rest assured we will protect your home from an ant infestation.

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How Do I Get Rid Of Ants?

The only reliable solution to an ant problem is to launch an all-out attack. Your call to Redi National means you’ve brought in the best-trained, best-equipped Ant Exterminator Team. Our ant control programs are designed to prevent these re-infestations. Our 100% pest-free guarantee means your problem is solved for good.

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Common Ants in The Seattle Region

Odorous House Ants, which vary from black to brown, are also known as sugar ants or coconut ants due to the sweet odor that the anal glands produce. Workers range from 2.5 to 3.5 mm and seek out sweets commonly found in kitchens, break rooms, and garage areas. The first thing to remember is not to spray for these ants. With colonies that could contain as many as 200 queens, they can easily divide their nests, making them even more challenging to eliminate.

Moisture Ants are yellow to a slightly rusty dark brown. They like to find wet or damaged wood, then pack moist sawdust up against good wood, causing the sound wood to begin to rot. Infestations occur near leaky plumbing, damp or damaged wood in a crawlspace, form boards, wood beams, window and door frames, and in soil.

They Want to Pulverize Your Home. Nature created carpenter ants for a specific reason: to aid in the breakdown of decaying wood. In other words, to pulverized rotten trees and stumps into sawdust. In turn, they’re provided with a hollow, comfortable home. Because this mutual relationship is so crucial to the balance of nature, carpenter ants instinctively build multiple satellite colonies to ensure survival if others are destroyed. Many times, at least one of the colonies will end up in your home. If they do enter your home, you should call an ant control expert before they bring down your home’s wood frames.

Turn Right at the First Whiff. Being practically blind, a carpenter ant’s whole life depends on its sense of smell. Just like bees, queen ants lay eggs while their workers forage for food, water, and prospective colony locations as much as 300 feet away in all directions. Each foraging ant leaves behind an odor trail similar to perfume, called pheromone. It’s like a road map for the other ants in the colony to follow. More commonly known as an “ant trail,” a pheromone trail is tough enough to withstand the elements, including snow and rain.

Jaws… And You Thought the Movie Was Scary. Carpenter ants use their powerful jaws to bore smooth tunnels in the wood where they lay their eggs. Wet wood, dry wood, old wood, new wood — it doesn’t matter to them. It’s not unusual to find carpenter ants setting up shop in a home before the real carpenters have finished the job.

Because carpenter ants are used to living in the cold dampness of a tree stump, nothing could look more luxurious than your warm home. To them, it’s a giant stump heated year-round. They’ll take up residence in walls, floors, roofs, or any wood environment that looks cozy to them.

Sometimes the only evidence you’ll see is a single ant in your home or yard. But for every single any you see, a thousand more can be lurking behind the scenes, causing severe damage to the structure of your building. Unfortunately, the presence of carpenter ants is usually detected after their colonies are well established.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ah, ants! These tiny, industrious insects might be fascinating to observe in nature, but they’re not so welcome when they’re marching in a line through your kitchen. Dealing with an ant invasion can be frustrating, but fear not – there are various effective methods to banish these unwelcome guests.

  1. Natural Repellents:
  • Lemon or Cucumber: Ants dislike the scent of lemon and cucumber. Simply squeeze a lemon or place cucumber slices at the known entry points.
  • Peppermint Oil: An all-natural ant repellent. A few drops in water can be sprayed where ants are frequenting.
  1. Diatomaceous Earth: A natural pesticide, diatomaceous earth damages the exoskeleton of ants, causing them to dehydrate and die. Sprinkle it around areas where ants are prevalent. Ensure you’re using food-grade diatomaceous earth.
  2. Bait Stations: These are dual-purpose: they attract ants and then poison them. Ants carry the bait back to their colonies, effectively eliminating the entire colony over time.
  3. Keep it Clean: One of the best preventive measures is maintaining cleanliness. Ensure food is stored in airtight containers, wipe down surfaces regularly, and immediately clean up any spills or crumbs.
  4. Seal Entry Points: Ants are tiny and can slip through the smallest of gaps. Seal windows, doors, and any cracks with caulk to block their entry.
  5. Borax Solution: A mixture of borax, water, and sugar can act as a potent ant killer. However, keeping this mixture away from pets and children is essential, as borax can be harmful if ingested.
  6. Call Professionals: If the ant infestation is overwhelming or persistent, it might be time to call in the experts. Pest control services can offer solutions that are both effective and long-lasting.

Remember, ants are usually looking for food and water. By making these resources inaccessible and using repellents, you can make your home less appealing to them. With the right strategies, you can ensure your living space remains ant-free and comfortable!

Ant colonies can be a persistent nuisance, especially when they invade our living spaces. Addressing the entire colony rather than just the foraging ants is crucial for a long-term solution. Here’s a comprehensive guide to permanently banishing that ant colony:

  1. Determine the Ant Type: identify the ant species before taking action. Different species have unique behaviors, nesting habits, and preferences, which will influence your eradication strategy.
  2. Use Bait Stations:
  • Baits: These are particularly effective because foraging ants carry the poisoned bait back to the nest, ensuring that it reaches the queen and other ants in the colony. Without the queen, the colony can’t reproduce.
  • Borax & Sugar Solution: Borax and sugar can make homemade bait. Mix them in a 1:3 ratio, respectively, to lure ants. As with commercial bait, the ants will return it to their nest. Be cautious using this method around pets and children.
  1. Trace the Ant Path: Watch the trail of foraging ants to locate their nest. Once you find it, you can target the colony directly.
  2. Boiling Water: Pouring boiling water into the ant hill can exterminate a colony, though it may require several applications. This method is environmentally friendly but can be harmful to plants.
  3. Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkling food-grade diatomaceous earth around the nest can eradicate the colony. The tiny particles in this natural insecticide damage the ants’ exoskeleton, causing dehydration.
  4. Lemon Juice or Cinnamon: These natural repellents can deter ants when sprinkled or sprayed around the nest’s entrance. They may not exterminate the colony, but they can discourage activity in a particular area.
  5. Nematodes: Beneficial nematodes, microscopic worms, are natural predators of ants and can be introduced into the soil to target ant colonies. They’re a biological control method that won’t harm your plants or the environment.
  6. Maintain Your Yard: Regularly check for signs of ant colonies in your yard. Trim plants that touch your house, remove rotting wood and keep your yard clean to reduce attractive nesting areas.
  7. Professional Extermination: If you’ve tried multiple methods and still can’t get rid of the colony, it might be time to call in the professionals. They have access to potent treatments and can offer insights into preventing future infestations.

Remember, while it’s essential to address the visible ants in your home, targeting the entire colony is the key to permanent eradication. With consistent and combined efforts, you can reclaim your space and ensure a lasting ant-free environment!

Despite their diminutive size, ants can make a big impression when they suddenly turn up in our homes or yards. But what triggers these seemingly spontaneous invasions? The answer lies in a blend of their biological tendencies, environmental factors, and sometimes our living habits. Here’s a breakdown:

  1. Search for Food: The most common reason ants venture into human spaces is the food search. Sugary spills, crumbs, pet food, and even tiny morsels can lure them in. Once an ant finds a food source, it leaves a pheromone trail for others to follow, leading to a sudden influx of ants.
  2. Water Sources: Like food, ants also search for water, especially during dry periods. Leaky pipes, pet water dishes, or even a damp sponge can be a magnet for these thirsty insects.
  3. Natural Habitat Shifts: Environmental changes, such as heavy rain, flooding, or excessive heat, can force ants out of their natural habitats and into our homes for shelter.
  4. Breeding Cycles: During specific times of the year, particularly in spring and early summer, ant colonies produce winged ants. These ants are on a mission to mate and establish new colonies. So, if you suddenly notice winged ants in your home, it’s a sign of their mating flight.
  5. Inadvertent Invitations: Sometimes, we unknowingly provide the perfect home for ants. Rotting wood, overgrown vegetation touching the house, or gaps in home foundations can create ideal nesting sites.
  6. Colony Expansion: As ant colonies grow and mature, they look for new places to establish satellite colonies. This expansion drive can lead them straight into our homes.
  7. Disruption of Nearby Colonies: Construction, landscaping, or other disturbances can uproot existing ant colonies, pushing them to explore new areas, including our living spaces.
  8. Seasonal Changes: The arrival of warmer weather or increased humidity can activate ant colonies, making them more visible as they search for resources.

Understanding why ants suddenly appear is the first step in managing and preventing their invasions. By addressing their triggers, maintaining cleanliness, and sealing potential entry points, you can reduce the likelihood of unwelcome ant surprises in the future!

Ants are industrious and persistent creatures, so hoping they’ll disappear from your space without intervention might be a bit optimistic. Whether or not ants will go away on their own largely depends on the reasons they’re there in the first place. Let’s delve deeper:

  1. Temporary Food Source: If ants have invaded due to a one-off food source, like spilled juice or a piece of candy, they may leave once the food is consumed or if the area is cleaned thoroughly. However, they’re less likely to depart without intervention if they’ve identified your home as a consistent food source.
  2. Seasonal Changes: Some ant infestations are influenced by the season. For instance, ants might become more prevalent during warmer months or periods of rainfall. Their activity might decrease as seasons change, making it seem like they’ve gone alone.
  3. Disturbed Habitats: If their original habitat is disturbed due to factors like construction or flooding, ants may temporarily seek refuge in homes. They might relocate once the disruption ends or find a more suitable habitat.
  4. Breeding and Expansion: During certain times, particularly the mating season, you might observe a sudden influx of ants, especially the winged variety. These ants are on a mission to breed and establish new colonies. Once this activity ends, the numbers might dwindle.

However, there are some reasons why ants won’t just go away:

  1. Established Colonies: If ants have established a colony within your home’s walls, in the foundation, or in nearby soil, they’re unlikely to leave on their own. They have shelter, and if they have a consistent food and water source, they have little reason to move.
  2. Consistent Resources: As long as ants have access to food and water in your home, they’re more inclined to stay. This includes pet food, water dishes, crumbs, and even the moisture from a leaky faucet.
  3. Attractants: Factors like sugary residues, certain types of plants, or even a pheromone trail left by scout ants can continue attracting more ants.

While there are circumstances where ants might naturally decrease in number or relocate, relying solely on the hope they’ll disappear might not be the best strategy. If you’re faced with a persistent ant problem, proactive measures, from cleanliness to barriers and repellents, will be far more effective in ensuring they don’t overstay their welcome!

With its unique climate and environment, Seattle hosts various ant species. While the Pacific Northwest is home to numerous ant species, some are more likely to be encountered in homes and gardens than others. Here are some of the most common types of ants you might encounter in Seattle:

  1. Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile): Often referred to as “sugar ants” in the region, these ants are small and dark brown to black. They emit a rotten coconut-like odor when crushed, hence their name. They’re often seen foraging for sweet substances in kitchens and pantries.
  2. Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.): These are among the larger ants in the area, ranging in size and often black. They don’t eat wood like termites but excavate it to make their nests, which can cause structural damage over time.
  3. Pavement Ants (Tetramorium caespitum): Typically found under rocks and pavement or within cracks in sidewalks, these ants are small and brownish-black. They often enter homes in search of food.
  4. Thatching Ants (Formica spp.): Often seen in garden areas, these ants create large mounds made up of plant material. They can vary in color from red to black.
  5. Velvety Tree Ants (Liometopum spp.): These ants often nest in trees and can be aggressive when threatened. They are identifiable by their orange-brown and black coloration.
  6. Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis): These are tiny light brown ants that are often found in homes and buildings. They’re known as a nuisance, especially in hospitals and apartments, due to their penchant for contaminating food and difficult-to-eradicate colonies.
  7. Moisture Ants: A general term for several species that thrive in damp environments. These ants often indicate water damage in homes, as they prefer to build nests in decaying wood softened by moisture.

While these are the more commonly encountered ants in Seattle homes and gardens, many more species exist in the broader Pacific Northwest region. If you’re trying to identify a specific ant type or deal with an infestation, it might be helpful to consult with a local pest control expert who can provide guidance tailored to the particular challenges of the area.

Locating an ant colony within your house can be a bit like detective work. Ants are skilled at establishing nests in hidden areas, often out of sight. If you’re dealing with an indoor infestation, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you pinpoint that elusive ant colony:

  1. Follow the Trail: This is the most straightforward method. Ants typically follow scent trails, so you often see them moving in a line. If you spot a trail of ants, discreetly follow them. They will lead you back to their nest or to a small hole or crack indicating the entry point to their nesting area.
  2. Set Bait: If you can’t spot a regular trail, try enticing them with bait. Mix a small amount of honey or sugar syrup with water and place it where you’ve seen ant activity. After a while, ants should come to the bait. Once a significant number gather, follow them as they return to their nest.
  3. Check Common Locations:
  • Walls: Hollow areas within walls are a favorite for many ant species. You might hear a faint rustling if you press your ear to the wall.
  • Carpets: Some ants nest beneath carpet edges or under floorboards.
  • Behind Appliances: The warmth of refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens can attract certain ant species.
  • Windows and Door Frames: These are common entry points and sometimes nesting areas, especially if the wood has been damaged or rotted due to moisture.
  1. Look Outdoors: Sometimes, the ants in your house may originate from an outdoor nest. Check around the perimeter of your home, especially near foundations. Large ant mounds or the consistent presence of ant trails can give away the colony’s location.
  2. Moisture Attraction: Some ants, like the carpenter ant, are attracted to moist environments. Check for damp areas in your home, like under sinks, near leaky pipes, or in basements.
  3. Use a Flashlight: When the house is quiet at night, take a flashlight and check typical ant hotspots. Many ants are more active during nighttime hours.
  4. Consult a Pest Expert: If you cannot locate the colony or the infestation is significant, it might be time to consult a professional. They have the tools and expertise to locate and deal with hidden colonies.

Remember, locating the colony is the first critical step in dealing with an ant infestation. Once you’ve pinpointed the colony’s location, you can then choose the best method to eradicate it and take steps to prevent future invasions.

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