How To Get Rid Of Ant Hills In Your Yard

Summer is here and ant hills are beginning to pop up in our yards and around our property. These dirt mounds can damage lawns and create a nuisance for outdoor living spaces. Some ants are also capable of toxic bites that can leave welts and allergic reactions to people and animals. The answer to how to get rid of ant hills is not so simple, unfortunately, but Lookout Pest Control, formerly Any Pest Inc., is here to help.

What you need to know about ant hills:

Construction

Ants build elaborate colonies underground with maze-like tunnels that interconnect for shelter and to feed and take care of their queen. When they construct their colony, the displaced soil and debris are taken up to the surface, thus creating a mound above ground. Ants move more earth than any other organism and can create a large ant hill mound overnight. Most mounds are constructed by fire ants and their colonies can be 10 feet to more than 20 feet deep and spread more than 8 feet laterally. Fire Ants are polygenic meaning “multiple queens” which enables them to create huge colonies.

Hazards

Ant hills become an issue when disturbed and depending on which type of ants are inhabiting your yard, they can cause caustic bites and health hazards. Small children and pets are susceptible to being bit if they accidentally disturb the mound. If bitten by fire ants, dab a small amount of ammonia on bites pain and itching will go away. Ammonia is an active ingredient in some over the counter bite remedies. Then wash bites with dishwashing soap to help prevent welts. Ants can also cause damage to your lawn and landscaping from the digging and displacement of soil around your sod or plants.

Prevention

The prevention of ant hills can be confusing. There is a misconception that the ants actually dwell in the mound and simply destroying above ground hill will eliminate the colony. But this solution will only cause the ants to shift their location and build another mound to suit their tunnel system. To properly dispose of ant hills in your yard, call Lookout Pest Control for professional and timely service. We will eliminate the colony at the source and help prevent them from returning.

Ant Prevention Myths

These DIY remedies have been touted for decades to help eliminate any hills but they actually do not work

• Boiling Water
• Vinegar
• Lemons
• Club Soda
• Cinnamon

Ant Pest Control In Atlanta, GA

At Lookout Pest Control we provide expert pest control for any problem you may have with an ant infestation. We can identify the problem and ensure that you get rid of all of the ants causing damage to your home. Furthermore, we can help to prevent future infestations so that you won’t have to worry about ants in the future. Call us at 678-888-0035 or contact us online for a free estimate today!