Ants
Ants are among the most persistent and common household pests in Tennessee. While some species are mostly a nuisance, others can contaminate food, damage property, or even pose health risks. Once ants establish a trail to a food source, they can quickly multiply and become difficult to control without professional help.
Why they’re a problem
- Food contamination: Ants forage for sugary or greasy foods and can invade pantries, countertops, and trash bins. They can contaminate food as they move back and forth from unsanitary areas.
- Difficult to eliminate: Killing the visible ants won’t solve the problem. Most ant colonies have thousands of individuals and may have multiple nests.
- Property damage: Carpenter ants, in particular, tunnel through wood to build their nests, potentially weakening structural components of a home.
- Fast breeders: Ant colonies grow rapidly and can split into multiple satellite colonies if disturbed, making infestations worse if not handled properly.
- Bite or sting: Some species, such as fire ants, can bite or sting humans and pets. These attacks can cause painful welts or allergic reactions.
Signs you may have ants
- Visible trails or lines of ants
Seeing a steady stream of ants traveling along walls, countertops, baseboards, or outdoor surfaces is a sure sign of an active nest nearby. - Piles of dirt or soil
Outdoor nests often leave small mounds or disturbed soil near cracks in pavement, along foundations, or under landscape features. - Rustling sounds inside walls
Large colonies, especially carpenter ants, may make soft rustling or tapping noises inside walls as they tunnel and move around. - Frass or sawdust-like material
Carpenter ants discard bits of wood and debris, called frass, as they excavate their nests. This may appear beneath wooden beams, baseboards, or wall voids. - Winged ants (swarmers)
During certain times of the year, reproductive ants with wings emerge in swarms to start new colonies. Seeing winged ants inside your home is a strong indicator of an established nest. - Pet food or crumbs being swarmed
If you notice ants gathering around pet food bowls, crumbs, or any spills, it’s time to act. Ants are attracted to the smallest traces of food.
Ant infestations can spread quickly and require targeted treatment to eliminate the colony at its source.
Contact Professional Pest Management to stop ants at the source — call (931) 680-7249 today.
