How much does a cornfield ant exterminator cost?
With over 12,000 different species of ants in the world, the chances of you experiencing an infestation at some point in your life are highly likely. Ants normally appear in the late summer months, as mounds pop up in your garden filled with entire ant colonies. If you are experiencing an ant infestation, it is important to identify the type of ant in order to take proper measures to get rid of it. In this article, we explain everything you need to know about cornfield ants.
What do cornfield ants look like?
Cornfield ants (scientifically known as Lasius Alienus) are a fairly large species of ant. Whilst the male ants can grow anywhere between 3 mm to 4.5 mm, the female ants can grow as large as 9 mm. Just as they vary in size, they also vary in color, as they can be light brown or dark brown in color, and they can even take on a reddish hue.
Are cornfield ants dangerous?
Cornfield ants are not particularly dangerous. However, you need to be aware that they can bite. If they bite you, you might experience some relatively mild reactions such as irritation, itching, or the appearance of a rash. If you experience any of these symptoms, they can easily be treated with over-the-counter medication.
Where do cornfield ants live?
Cornfield ants build their colonies underground, which means that they are largely found outdoors. Unlike their name suggests, they are not exclusively found in corn fields, but will set up camp in virtually any outdoor space. You will likely find them nesting in lawns, under bricks, or within cracks in pavement.
They are unlikely to venture into your home, but if they do, it usually means that they were attracted by sweet foods. Alternatively, if they are nesting in your walls, it probably means that the wood in your walls is damp because they are attracted to moist environments.
What are the factors that affect cornfield ant extermination pricing?
Numerous factors influence how much you can expect to pay for extermination services:
- The size of the infestation
- The severity of the infestation
- Extermination technique used
- Number of visits
- Location of the infestation
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5 tips to get rid of cornfield ants?
If you have an ant infestation, you are going to want to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are a few different techniques that you can try to get rid of the ants yourself, but it is always best to contact an extermination company for guaranteed results.
1. H3: Ant bait
If you have been finding that ants are coming into your home to find a consistent food source, you can use ant bait to contaminate that food source. You can buy specific commercial bait products or simply make your own bait with boric acid mixed with honey or peanut butter.
Ants usually take the bait-laced food back to the nests where all the other ants share the food so it can serve to eliminate the entire colony. Moreover, if you notice that the ants in your garden are protecting aphid populations, you can use ant bait to get rid of the aphids by mixing it with powdered sugar and spreading it on top of the nest. However, you need to be patient with this method as it will take time for the bait to make its way around the entire colony.
2. H3: Insecticides
You can use residual insecticide sprays to get rid of an ant infestation. If you know where the nest is, spray aerosol insecticide on and around the nest to kill the ants. If you don’t know where the nests are but have seen the ants come into your house, you can spray the perimeter of your house with the spray and the ants will die shortly after crossing your insecticide barrier.
3. H3: Boiling water
If you are looking for a natural solution, something as simple as boiling water could do the trick. All you need to do is pour two or three gallons of boiling water directly on top of the nest. The best time to do this is after heavy rainfall as the rain will have already disrupted many of the internal tunnels. Coupled with the boiling water, you should be able to kill around 60% of the colony. After you have flooded the nest with boiling water, you should pour soapy water to get rid of the remaining 40% of the ant colony.
4. H3: Plant mint
Planting mint is a natural way of preventing ants from setting up camp in your garden or home. Every ant species hates the smell of mint which is why it is so effective. Planting it on the perimeter of your garden will stop ants from entering your property, let alone nesting there. Moreover, it means you have an abundance of delicious mint planted around your garden, perfect for a mojito in the summer.
5. H3: Sugar
Most ant species feed on sugar so you can use sugar to divert ant species away from your home or garden. The best place to lead them is to a compost heap in your garden. Simply create a trail of sugar from the ant nest to the compost heap and once they reach the heap, they will hopefully relocate knowing that there is an abundance of food there. This is not a guaranteed solution but is worth a try if you are looking for a way to get rid of ants without killing them.
Cornfield ant extermination services
Although there are DIY methods for exterminating ants, they are not guaranteed to be successful. Ant infestations can easily get out of control so it’s best to seek the expertise of a professional exterminator. At V Extermination, we know how difficult it can be to get rid of an infestation without the proper knowledge and equipment, which is why we are here to help. We offer residential, commercial, and agricultural extermination services. We also sell different extermination packages to ensure your peace of mind all year long.