It’s Time to Start Ant-Proofing Your Home!

Sweeping your floor regularly is a top ant-proofing tip in Henderson NV - Western Exterminator of Las VegasWhen the weather starts to warm up every spring in Las Vegas, the ants return! Warmer temperatures encourage worker ants to leave their nests in search of food, which means this is the time of year you may start to see more ants in your property. To prevent the chance of them making their way indoors, the time for ant-proofing is now! Ant infestations are notoriously difficult to control once you have them, making it important to learn how to keep them out in the first place. Keep reading for expert ant-proofing tips from the team at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas!

What Are Ants Attracted To?

Just like many of us, ants have a sweet tooth and will go hunting for crumbs in your property. This makes kitchens particularly vulnerable to infestations. They also are attracted to moisture, making your sinks and cabinets a hot spot for infestations. Leaky pipes that cause excess moisture are a leading cause of ant problems. Lastly, ants can easily make their way indoors from cracks and crevices, and are drawn to homes that provide food and water.

Ant-Proofing Tips

With help from the NPMA, we’ve compiled a list of ant prevention tips for homeowners that will help guard your home against these pesky pests this year:

  • Inspect your property and seal any cracks or crevices using a silicone-based caulk.
  • Keep pet food bowls clean and always clean up messes made. Pick pet bowls up off the floor after meal times.
  • Ensure downspouts and gutters are all functioning properly so that water is flowing away from the foundation.
  • Similarly, check under sinks for excess moisture problems and repair leaky pipes promptly.
  • Trim trees and shrubbery in your yard to be at least 6 inches away from the home.
  • Wipe down your countertops and sweep floors regularly to clean up spills and remove crumbs.
  • Store food (including pet food) in airtight containers and place ripe fruit in your fridge.
  • Dispose of garbage on a regular basis and use trash cans with a tight-fitting lid.

Professional Ant Prevention

If you’ve done all you can to prevent ants but still see a problem forming in your Henderson or Las Vegas home, it’s best to call an ant exterminator. Many people attempt to address ant problems on their own, but they are infamously tricky to exterminate completely. At Western Exterminator, our professionals can help ensure your ant problem is taken care of quickly and efficiently.

Prepare for Springtime Pests!

Stinging insects surge in activity in the spring in Henderson NV. Learn how to prevent them from Western Exterminator of Las Vegas!Spring has sprung in Las Vegas! Unfortunately, with the warmer weather comes the return of pest problems. Pest infestations grow in numbers in the spring and summer, making now the time to safeguard your home. To avoid the many springtime pests that become active again this time of year, it’s best to implement some pest prevention measures into your spring cleaning routine. To learn how, keep reading for expert tips from the team at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas.

Springtime Pests in Las Vegas

While some of these pests are active year-round in the area, property owners see a peak in activity as soon as the weather warms up. The most common pests homeowners throughout the state deal with this time of year are:

  • Ants. With warmer weather comes hoards of ants in your home.
  • Termites. It’s swarming season. Termite infestations often start in the spring.
  • Rodents. Although they’re active year-round, rats and mice are a problem in the spring.
  • Stinging insects. Wasps and hornets are gearing up to build nests this time of year.
  • Stink bugs. After overwintering, people report a resurgence in stink bugs.

Preventing Seasonal Pest Infestations

With it being spring, there’s no better time to deep-clean your home and—in the process—prevent pests! When thoroughly spring cleaning your property, there’s a few areas to focus on. Clean your windows and doors, and make sure there are no cracks or crevices. Deep-clean your carpets by vacuuming, shampooing, or steam-cleaning them. Thoroughly sanitize your kitchen with a focus on your appliances. Crumbs and spilled liquids will welcome all kinds of bugs and pests.

Outside, clean up debris from your yard, gutters, and overhangs. Make sure to trim back tree limbs and shrubs away from the foundation of your home.

Protect Your Home From Pests Year-Round

Pest problems can be inevitable this time of year, even with all the prep work to prevent them. To avoid dealing with an infestation, it’s best to team up with a professional pest control company. The pest control experts at Western Exterminator will work with you to keep you, your family, and your home safe from pests in the spring and all year long.

Top Differences Between Carpenter Ants & Termites

When it comes to wood-destroying insects, both termites and carpenter ants can cause a lot of damage. They’re also commonly mistaken for one another! In the swarmer stages of their lives, they look quite similar and also swarm at the same time of the year. Although they are both destructive, these wood-boring insects are quite different. To learn about the many differences between carpenter ants and termites, read on for tips from the experts at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas.

How are Termites Different than Carpenter Ants?

As swarmers, carpenter ants and termites are very easy to misidentify as the other. The best way to differentiate them is to look at their size and their wings:

  • Carpenter ant swarmers. These are black in color, with some species having slightly red coloring. Carpenter ants measure 1/2″–5/8″ with antenna bent at a 45-degree angle. Their wings are translucent with a reddish brown hue, laying over the posterior of the ant. Carpenter ants are by far the biggest ant species in the nation.
  • Termite swarmers. These termites are dark brown to black, and measure 3/8″ long including the wings. Their wings are a translucent to slightly milky or smoky color. Their wings may overlap, and are typically as long as or slightly longer than the body. This is an easy visual clue to differentiate them from carpenter ants.

Winged ant vs. termite in Henderson NV - Western Exterminator of Las Vegas

The Damage Caused by Wood-Destroying Insects

Both of these insects can be very dangerous and destructive, but one is more of a threat than the other. Carpenter ants typically establish their nests in decayed wood and then later expand into undamaged wood, insulation, or wall voids. Their damage is not always visible, but the galleries they excavate appear to have been sanded down.

Established termite colonies can range from 60,000 to over a million workers and can consume nearly 5 grams of wood per day. These wood-destroying insects find their way into a structure around basement windows, doorways, under siding, porches, or any structure in contact with the soil. Without a doubt, termites are capable of causing a lot more damage in a short amount of time than carpenter ants.

Carpenter Ants or Termites?

If you think you have wood-destroying insects in your home or business, it’s best to act quickly and contact a professional pest control company. The termite exterminators at Western Exterminator of Las Vegas know the differences between carpenter ants and termites that can help determine the type of infestation you’re dealing with. From there, we will implement the most effective, fast-acting termite or carpenter ant control methods to protect your property.