![](/assets/pack/background/placeholder.2302151644550.jpg)
Why do I have ants in my home
Although most ants are considered nuisance pests, having them in your San Diego home is never fun. For local residents, you’ll need to be on the lookout for four types of ants.
Argentine Ants
As one of the most common species you’ll encounter in San Diego, Argentine ants tend to be small – no more than a sixteenth of an inch long – and are attracted to sweets and moisture sources.
Odorous House Ants
Similar to Argentine ants, odorous house ants are after the sweets you’ve got sitting out in your home. Most people can recognize this species by the rotten, musty odor they release when they’re squashed.
Fire Ants
While you’re less likely to encounter them than Argentine ants, fire ants are one of the less friendly species. These pests aren’t afraid to sting, and some say they pack a punch that’s more painful than a bee sting.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants can be another big problem for San Diego homeowners. While they’re also interested in your sweets, they will chew through the structural wood of your home to create nests and cause significant damage.
Whether you’re dealing with odorous house ants or carpenter ants, these pests are never a pleasant sight for San Diego homeowners. Here’s what you should know about what attracts ants to your home, how to prevent them despite their tiny size, and the best way to deal with an existing ant problem around your house.
What Attracts Ants & How Do They Get Inside?
Ants enter your home for the same reason that a lot of other pests do – they’re looking for food and water. These critters aren’t shy about hunting for food or any other debris that you’ve left behind. This includes everything from sweets and meats to pet food left inside your dog’s food bowl.
Ants are also attracted to sources of moisture, especially standing water, so if you’ve got a leaky faucet, damp clothes, or other moist items lying around your home, you could be drawing ants in. Empty cans of soda that may only have a few drops left could even serve as a source of sugar for odorous house ants or Argentine ants that are on the hunt.
When it comes to getting inside your home, ants don’t need a lot of wiggle room to climb in. Most of the time, these pests enter through tiny cracks and crevices located near the foundation of your home, walls, or floors. In some cases, they may use tiny tears in window or door screens to get inside if their colony is nearby.
How To Prevent Ants
Given how small they are, ants are one of the trickiest pests to prevent since they don’t need a lot of space to squeeze through. And, if the infestation is small, you may not notice just a few ants around your home.
As troublesome as they are, there are a couple of things you can do to avoid attracting ants into your home, such as:
- Don’t leave food sitting out. If you leave food out too long, ants will smell it and take advantage. To avoid this, be sure to keep your leftovers and other food in airtight or plastic containers, including pet food.
- Store your trash properly. Even trash can draw ants in, so you’ll want to keep garbage bins sealed and empty them as soon as they’re full.
- Deal with excess moisture. Excess moisture, like plumbing problems or damp rags and clothes, can all serve as sources of water for ants. Deal with excess moisture issues as soon as you notice them.
- Seal off cracks and crevices. Ants need a way to get inside, and the best way to block their access is by using a sealant like caulk to seal cracks and crevices near the foundation of your home.
How To Deal With An Ant Infestation In San Diego, CA
They may feel like a nuisance, but ants are a lot more trouble than they seem – especially when it comes to getting rid of them. The best way to deal with an ant infestation in San Diego is by leaving the legwork up to the residential pest control professionals here at HomeShield Pest Control.
If you’re spotting ants around your home, there’s no reason to wait for the problem to get worse. Contact us at HomeShield Pest Control today for more information about how our ant control services work and what we can do to help.
![](/assets/pack/background/general-cta-bg-1.2403271249550.jpg)
Our California Pest Control Services
In California, We Provide Reliable Home Pest Control And Commercial Pest Control Solutions.
Why Our Customers Love Us
HomeShield Pest Control received an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars from over 8000+ reviews.
-
“Homeshield was great to work with! My wife and I encountered a really bad termite problem at our new home during the renovation phase, and needed treatment asap so that renovation could resume. Mike drove all the way down for an inspection, and was very thorough in his explanations. He was able to match a competitor's price for the treatment and locked in a day for the following week. Daniel and Elias, the technicians, were very communicative about their ETA and did a good job explaining their respective roles. All in all, a quick and easy process. Thank you, Homeshield!”- James Y.
-
“Bronson announced his arrival and departure. He inquired if there was anything specific that we wanted done prior to him starting his regular service. Pleasant, friendly and respectful.”- Joseph S.
-
“
Amazing work! Switched from Terminex as I was tired of having scheduling issues and wanted something eco friendly for my dogs and upcoming baby.
”
I definitely recommend trying to get Jose Garcia as your technician as he was very communicative and kept us updated throughout the service process.
Will continue using homeshield!- Chris P.M. -
“You guys provide very quality service. We are very happy with the service. Every time the person comes to our place to provide service is very humble and helpful. Does what ever we are asking for. Thank you.”- Arif S.
-
“
Excellent experience. Super professional and thorough. Found them through yelp and they called immediately with affordable options and set up an appointment. The technician was wonderful. Would highly recommend.
”- Samantha S. -
“
Dee provided a very thorough and detailed inspection. Walked us through the entire process and what we could expect throughout the initial services and beyond. Quote came within minutes and price was very reasonable.
”- Jason D. -
“
Ben was FANTASTIC in every way, He came to give me an estimate on my home, was on time, polite, knowledgeable, and extremely professional in how he handled everything. Had 4 other termite co. to give me an estimate, not even close to Ben's expertise, I would give him a 10 if I could. Will definitely use him in all my other projects , they are a lot since I am in real estate and have many clients.
”- Judy M. -
“
We had a great experience. They were able to work with our schedule to make a quick appointment. The service professional, Victor, was very professional, helpful and informative.
”- Mark S.
![](/assets/pack/foreground/ezgif-7-06f9ab0bfa.2405170811550.jpg)
Featured On
![](/assets/pack/background/placeholder.2302151644550.jpg)