Every so often our Ant Control guys here get called out to diagnose what was thought to be Termite Damage. Far to often the above two get confused, this could potentially cause clients thousands rather than a few hundred Rands.We have decided to clear things up a bit with this post on identifying Ant activity.
Not all Pest Controllers here in Johannesburg are equal and ethical. You give some your pinky finger and they take it off by your elbow. Pest Control Johannesburg and out teams of Insect Specialists call apples, apples and are always honest.
Identifying Ant activity is not that tough for the trained eye.
Ants have been causing havoc around homes here in Johannesburg for centuries and will continue to do do indefinitely unless you put a stop to them. Identifying Ant activity plays an important role in Extermination, this prevents misdiagnosis and saves you a wad of cash.
Ants are creatures of chance, their forage abilities leave them hidden in walls or under floors often unseen. With only their evidence left behind. Often identifying Ant Activity is problematic as the excavations they push up may not look the same or have the same texture. For instance, Ants that live under a wooden floor with sandy soil will push up sandy soil and Ants that live in a cavity wall, behind an old rotten cupboard will push up pieces of cabinet, dust from the years of expanding and contracting wood. As well as the sand substrate present in the walls.
Ants generally don’t cause damage to wood or furniture, they may however excavate already rotten or damaged pieces out of a crack to make space for a nest. Ants are often found around dry and wet rot, the damaged wood makes an ideal home given that its a natural substance and keeps a perfect ambient temperature. Much like a thatched house, the temperature is always nice and moderate.
You can learn trick in identifying Ant activity.
So identifying Ant activity in and around your house is simple. Ants love to excavate, they push up dirt, soil and other substrate and make room for more tunnels. Look for the substrate, often the substrate is found in windowsills, in the corners of door flames as well as along skirting boards. Ants use the cracks in your homes foundation for a home. Take a close look, pieces of sand from cement, wood from rotten frames are most common. Ants will push up pretty much anything that’s in their way. If the substrate if found on say a windowsill where no wood is present, chances are they are 100% ants and certainly not Termites.
Identifying Ant activity is easy if you rule on out the other out by process of elimination. Termites are Wood Destroying Insects. A visit from a Pest Entomologist is often necessary for identification, treatment and prevention. Termites will destroy wood, they are found exclusively near wood and active damage and mud deposits are mostly clearly visible. Termites extract droppings that are all the same texture and similar color unlike the excavations by Ants that differ in color and composition.
Identifying Ant activity still a daunting task?
No problem, you can feel free to call our skilled identification team. We provide free quotations that are obligation free. Johannesburg Pest Control have teams of specialist for any and all Pest related queries. From Rodents such as Rats and Mice to Fumigations for all sorts of Insect Pests, no job is too big or too small for us to handle.
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