Ants In The House: Understanding The Risks And Health Concerns In Louisville

The Risks And Health Concerns Of Ants In The House

Ants are a nuisance; no one wants a line of ants traveling through the house. Instinctively, we do not enjoy ants living in our homes, but we may not understand why ant control is necessary. You do not want ants in your Louisville house for the following reasons:

• Ants contaminate items
• Ants can spread disease
• Ants can cause painful stings
• Ants can trigger severe allergic reactions
• Ants can damage wood
• Ants can cause short circuits

This list may surprise you, so we will examine each risk and explain.

Ants do not discriminate where they walk and travel over trash, fermenting foods, animal feces, and other unsanitary items. As they crawl over these tainted items, bacteria stick to their feet; later, the bacterium transfer to countertops, bath towels, clothing, and other items when they walk over them.

Ants contaminate surfaces, but one ant species, pharaoh ants, spread disease. Pharaoh ants are 1/16-inch and have a pale, yellowish body that ends with a brownish abdomen. Although these ants are more problematic in healthcare facilities, they occasionally invade Louisville homes. Salmonellosis, staphylococcus, and clostridium are diseases pharaoh ants spread to people.

Ants can bite, although most cannot penetrate the skin. If its mandibles are strong enough to pierce the skin, the bite feels like a pinprick but does not cause illness or swelling. However, fire ants are another matter. Fire ants are 1/8 to 3/8 inch long, have a dark, reddish-brown body, and build large two-to-four feet nests outdoors near landscaping materials, foundations, tree stumps, etc.

Fire ants bite, but the problem comes from the venom they inject when they sting. When a fire ant nest is disturbed, soldier ants swarm the perpetrator, bite to stabilize themselves, and begin repeatedly stinging. Your body reacts to the venom with histamines which cause red, painful, itchy, and fluid-filled bumps. Due to the ability to sting rapidly and repeatedly, people with allergy sensitivities may experience significant allergic reactions. Although these ants typically build nests outside, they occasionally enter homes through HVAC systems.

We have looked at ants that can affect health, but other ants can cause physical damage to your Louisville house. Carpenter ants are the most destructive species because they invade damp, softened wood. Unlike termites that eat wood, these 1/2 to 5/8-inch black, red, or black and red ants do not consume cellulose but bore holes in wood to create nests. The holes they drill can go deep into lumber and weaken it. Although noticeable damage may take years, an infestation can result in sagging floors, warping frames, and collapsing structures.

Crazy ants have a 1/16 to 1/8-inch dark brown or black body with a greyish sheen. These ants are so-called because they zigzag when they walk with erratic patterns. Crazy ants build huge colonies in outdoor air conditioning units, appliances, and electronics, where they chew on the wiring. The combination of exposed wiring and the moisture the ants transport into the nest on their bodies can cause short circuits resulting in expensive repair bills.

Remove ants in your Louisville house by contacting the best pest control company for ants, Action Pest Control. We protect your health and home by ending ant infestations.