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Stopping Ant Infestations in the Greater Charlotte NC Area

Carolina Ant Swarm

Dealing with ant infestations in North Carolina is a challenge that many homeowners face. With an astonishing 20 quadrillion ants on the planet, it’s no wonder they sometimes decide to march into our homes. For many residents across North Carolina, the appearance of ants trailing along countertops, floors, and even bathroom walls is all too familiar.

But why are these tiny intruders so drawn to our living spaces? The answer is simple: food and shelter. Ants are some of nature’s most efficient scavengers, constantly searching for new resources to support their colonies. Scout ants lead the way, locating ideal spots to settle. When they find food crumbs, water sources, and places to hide, they signal the colony to follow, turning a few ants into a full-blown infestation. Let’s explore some common causes of ant invasions in the Carolinas and how to keep these unwelcome guests at bay.

1. Open Food Sources in Your Home

Ants are relentless in their hunt for food, and leaving food uncovered is like sending an open invitation. Infestations commonly start in the kitchen, where food is most accessible. Once ants discover crumbs or snacks, they quickly communicate with the rest of their colony, leading to an infestation in kitchens, pantries, and eventually, other areas of the home. Sugary foods are particularly enticing to ants, making soda cans, sweets, and fruit prime targets.

Preventive Actions: Keep your kitchen clean by routinely wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors. Store all food in airtight containers or resealable bags to cut off easy access. Take the trash out regularly, especially if it contains food scraps, to reduce attraction.

2. Damp and Decayed Wood

When wood in your home becomes damp, it begins to soften and rot, creating the perfect environment for carpenter ants. These ants chew through weakened wood to create tunnels and hideouts, damaging the structure as they expand their colony. Unfortunately, the damage carpenter ants cause can also create pathways that allow other pests to enter your home.

Preventive Actions: Replace damaged wood as soon as you notice signs of rot. Just as importantly, identify and address the source of moisture. Rotting wood often indicates a hidden leak. Regularly inspect your home for signs of water damage or leaks, and fix any plumbing issues promptly to prevent further damage.

3. Leaky Pipes and Faucets

Ants need water to survive, and leaky pipes and faucets provide them with a steady supply. Damp areas around pipes and plumbing fixtures create attractive spots for ants to settle. These leaks often remain hidden, allowing moisture to build up undetected and giving ants and other pests an easy way in.

Preventive Actions: Conduct regular home inspections to check for water stains on walls, ceilings, and floors, which could signal a leak. If you notice a sudden increase in your water bill or detect a musty odor, investigate further to find and address the leak source.

4. Grease and Food Residues on Surfaces

Even small amounts of leftover grease and food residue can attract ants. Spills like oil near the stove or crumbs under the toaster might seem harmless, but ants see them as a valuable food source. What seems like an insignificant drop of syrup or a tiny food particle can draw ants into your home.

Preventive Actions: Wipe down surfaces and containers regularly, paying extra attention to your kitchen and stovetop after cooking. Small spills and crumbs can accumulate, creating ideal feeding grounds for ants. By removing these, you’re taking a major step toward keeping ants out of your home.

When DIY Methods Aren’t Enough, Trust Killingsworth Environmental

While ants play an essential role in nature, finding them in your home is never welcome. But what should you do if you’ve tried preventive measures and the ants keep coming back?

In North Carolina, keeping ants out can be an ongoing challenge, and sometimes professional help is the best solution. Killingsworth Environmental has long been a trusted partner for pest control across the Carolinas, providing residents with expert ant control solutions that are efficient, safe, and environmentally responsible.

Whether you’re facing a minor ant nuisance or a larger infestation, Killingsworth Environmental is here to help. Our expert team understands the habits of different ant species and can tailor treatments to provide lasting results. Don’t let ants disrupt your home—call Killingsworth Environmental at 704-563-8787 today to schedule a consultation with a specialist and take back control of your living space.

Stopping Ant Infestations in the Greater Charlotte NC Area

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.



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