Are you struggling with ants after termite treatment?
Some homeowners face the same issue. They get their termites treated only to be followed by a sudden influx of ants. This raises many questions and begs an answer to whether termite treatment and ant infestations go hand in hand.
There is a clear natural relationship between termites and ants. Both of these pests will readily occupy similar living conditions. And some types of ants will even eat termites when they have this option.
Now, in collaboration with Whole Management in Littleton, we will go over the major reasons why you might have an ant problem after termite treatment. Also, you’ll learn about the possible solutions when you face ant trouble in your home.
Carpenter Ants vs Termites
Both termites and carpenter ants may cause considerable damage to your home. That’s because these pests destroy wooden structures. As time passes, the damage accumulates and could result in serious problems.
The difference is that termites feed on wood and they can quickly eat a lot of wood in your house. But carpenter ants don’t eat the wood as their food, they destroy the wood as they burrow through the material to make nests.
Ant Problem After Termite Treatment
Termites and ants need similar conditions to thrive. This makes them natural competitors in these favorable habitats. For instance, both of these pests excavate wood and create underground nests.
The interesting thing about ants eating termites is that it’s not only about sustenance. While termites are good sources of protein, there is something else at play as well. Ants may kill and eat termites to minimize the competition for the resources they use.
You might face ant issues after getting your termites treated because ants face less competition. The removal of termites allows the ant colonies to thrive and expand their territories.
While there are many similarities between carpenter ants and termites, the treatment for termites will not instantly kill your ants. Instead, these pests need an individual approach for successful pest control.
Why Doesn’t Termite Treatment Work on Ants?
To answer this question, let’s first look at how termite treatment works. In general, there are three different ways to remove termites from your home:
- Treat the soil: You can have the soil around your home treated with liquid termiticide. This substance kills the termites when they enter and exit their colony.
- Treat the wood: It’s possible to add termiticides straight into your wooden structures that have been affected by termites. The wood treatment approach can be very effective in taking care of the problem.
- Bait your termites: Termite baits have poison that isn’t fast-acting. This allows the termites to carry the baits back to their colonies. Usually, these baits are put in a crawl space or below the ground around your home.
When it comes to carpenter ants, none of these strategies will help kill them. Using liquid termiticide on ants can be harmful to you and your family. The ants will just get covered in this liquid and they will spread it unto unintended surfaces around your home.
What to Do About Your Ant Problem?
Baiting is one of the most effective treatments for combating your ant problem. The best approach is professional indoor and outdoor baiting that maximizes the extermination efforts.
Baiting is all about getting rid of the ant nest. When you use baiting, it’s efficient because it will not only kill the worker ants but also the queen. All the members of an ant colony will devour the food items brought in by worker ants.
Since the baits are typically made from ants’ favorite food, it’s highly likely that they will fall into the trap. In most cases, baiting works better long-term compared to simple spraying techniques.
In a nutshell: Ant Problem After Termite Treatment
Did you finish your termite treatment only to discover ant issues? This is a likely scenario because termites and ants are natural competitors. When you remove termites, the ants will just gain more territory.
Some homeowners believe that termite treatment will work on ants. That is not the case. Effective treatments for termites are likely not to have any help when it comes to killing the ants intruding on your home.
Ant treatment requires separate strategies. An effective method is using indoor and outdoor baits. When the worker ants carry the bait back to the nest, all the ants will eat the poison-laced bait, including the queen. This will probably lead to the colony’s demise.
