How to Prevent Ant Infestations in Charlottesville This Summer

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville is a historic city filled with charm, great amenities, and beautiful green spaces, including Shenandoah National Park. With everything it has to offer, it’s no wonder families choose this place to call home. However, they’re not the only families taking up residence here. Each spring, ant colonies emerge and begin their hunt for water, food, and shelter.

If your home isn’t protected, you could end up sharing it with ant colonies this year, and trust us—you definitely don’t want that. Let’s talk about why ant infestations occur, what makes them potentially damaging, and how Mosquito Squad can step in to offer ant control and help support you before your house is taken over. 

What Attracts Ants to Homes in Charlottesville? 

When you invite guests over to your home during the spring and summer seasons for a backyard picnic or a pool day, there are certain amenities that you want to offer. On any hot day, you’ll want to provide your guests with water and other beverage options, some kind of food, and a comfortable place to rest and relax at any point during the gathering. Well, ants are kind of like people in that way, because just like us, they’re drawn to homes that offer shelter and sources of food and water. 

Charlottesville homes go above and beyond in this way, because our warm, humid summers and established neighborhoods with mature landscaping create the best conditions for various ant species. Plus, that humidity can often lead to condensation and dampness in basements, which can draw ants into even the cleanest homes. 

How Ant Infestations Can Damage Your Home

Odorous house ants, carpenter ants, and pavement ants are all common in the Charlottesville area, and each has different habits and factors that attract them to homes. While odorous ants and pavement ants are mainly considered a nuisance, they can still cause damage by contaminating food, creating unpleasant odors, and weakening concrete slabs (like those in your front yard, under your patio, or in the driveway) by nesting beneath them.

Carpenter ants are a bit more obvious with the damage they cause, because the concerns they pose are structural. These ants are known to nest in damp or decaying wood and eat away at it, which over time can damage joists, window frames, and decks. The repairs can be costly because it takes time and care to fix this kind of damage. 

How You Can Help Prevent Ant Infestations in Your Charlottesville, VA Home

Summer is peak season for ants, but it’s also the time of year when you can finally enjoy your backyard, host BBQs and outdoor slumber parties, and relax in the peace and quiet of your own space. To help you enjoy your yard without ants this year, here are a few tips we recommend:

• Avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
• Don’t let fruit sit on the counter, or put away pantry items without securing them with clips or airtight packaging.
• Address any excess moisture in your home or basement.
• Regularly monitor joists and other wood structures for signs of dampness or potential damage caused by carpenter ants.
• Seal entry points (like cracks in foundations, gaps around windows, utility penetrations).
• Invest in ant control with Mosquito Squad to help keep ants away this summer.

How Our Ant Control in Charlottesville Works

When you’re ready for a solution that helps protect your home from ants, there’s Home Shield from Mosquito Squad. This indoor pest control solution targets ants, centipedes, cockroaches, spiders, and other crawling pests. During your service, we’ll begin with a full inspection to identify entry points we can seal and determine what’s attracting ants to your home.

Then, we’ll use our EPA-registered products to create a protective barrier around your home that helps stop ants in their tracks. The treatments are performed on the exterior of your home, eliminating the need for indoor sprays or foggers.

Searching for pest control in Charlottesville?

Ready to say goodbye to ants? Give us a call, and we’ll be there within 48 hours to complete your first treatment, or it’s free! Then, we’ll return every 3 weeks throughout the season to reapply the solution and help keep ants away for good.

Along the way, we’ll back all of our work with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, serve with integrity, and always offer transparent pricing (AKA, no hidden fees). 

Seeing ants in your Charlottesville home? Call Mosquito Squad of Charlottesville at (434) 363-9274 or contact us online for a free quote.