Living in New York City can be both hectic and exciting. There are so many amazing things to do and explore in the city, but there are also a lot of annoyances to deal with. Because of the high population and the fact that most people live in apartment buildings or other multi-family dwellings, it’s easy for infestations of pests to spread. While bed bugs, cockroaches, and rats get talked about often, they aren’t the only pests that New York City residents have to deal with.
Ants are pests that are rather common. They can get into your living area and be hard to get rid of. There are a few different ants that you might encounter in your NYC home such as:
- Pavement ants
- Carpenter ants
- Pharaoh ants
- Odorous house ants
While all of these ants look similar, they do have differences. They also have differences in behavior that set them apart.
Are Ants Dangerous?
When it comes to most ants native to the area, they are mostly considered nuisance pests. This means that they don’t pose any significant health risks or cause property damage. The biggest risk that most species of ants pose is that they contaminate food sources. When they get into food, that food will need to be thrown away.
There is one species of ant in New York City, however, that can cause property damage. The carpenter ant is the biggest ant threat in the area because they can do damage similar to that of termites. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they do hollow it out to build their nests. This means they can damage walls, furniture, floors, and more.
Ant-Prevention Tips
While reducing your risk of an ant infestation completely isn’t possible, there are some prevention steps you can follow that can reduce the risk greatly. While not all prevention steps will work for all species of ants, there are a few general things you can do that will help with most species.
Here are some prevention tips to take in your NYC home:
- Seal up cracks and holes especially around doors and windows.
- Reduce the moisture content in your home or apartment by fixing leaky pipes or using dehumidifiers.
- Make your home less appealing to ants. This means doing things like taking out the trash often and cleaning up food spills.
- Make sure that you’re storing food, including pet food, in sealed containers.
Eliminating An Ant Colony
While prevention steps can go a long way, ants might still make their way inside. This is especially true if you live close to other people as infestations can spread quickly. The safest and most effective way to get rid of an ant colony, whether they are carpenter ants or nuisance ants, is to contact the professionals at Parkway Pest Services. We have been in the area for over 85 years. You can trust you are getting high-quality pest control services at affordable prices.