A sudden ant invasion of your home can be both shocking and frustrating. They can be tough to deal with, especially if they keep coming back. This leads to the big question, why are ants constantly invading my home?
To help uncover this mystery and assist you in stopping your ant problem, we have created this guide. Let’s start by uncovering why ants are invading your home in the first place.
The common reasons ants invade homes
Food
Food is one of the most common reasons for ants to invade your home. They will scout around for food, and if they find some, the whole colony will be alerted and on its way. This is why an invasion can seem so sudden as one small ant suddenly becomes thousands. While most ants are opportunistic feeders, eating almost everything, they do have a preference for sweet things.
Because of this, ants will be attracted to foods like:
- Sugar
- Syrup
- Honey
- Fruit juice
- Meat
- Fats
- Breadcrumbs
- Containers or wrappers that have been in contact with sweet items.
- Pet food, it is important to not leave pet food out. Only put pet food out when you pet will eat it all, and ensure you clean up afterwards.
When they find a food source, colonies will form a trail of thousands of ants that links the colony to its food source. A chemical trail is created using their pheromones which leaves a scent signature for them to follow.
Water
A source of water is vital to an ant colony’s survival. Ants will seek out a water supply to quench the thirst of their colony. Often, a small pool of water will satisfy this need. The more reliable the water source, the closer the colony will want to be to it.
This is why high moisture areas, like bathrooms, drainage, and kitchens are very popular for ants. It is important to wipe up spills quickly and check high moisture areas regularly so that you aren’t accidentally providing them with a water source in your home.
Weather
There is a very common link between heightened ant activity and the weather. In periods of heavy rainfall, or hot drought-like conditions you are more likely to have an ant invasion. This is because they are seeking shelter and stable sources of food and water.
Generally, ants are more dormant in the winter months and colder conditions. Their most active period tends to be between October and March.
How do ants get in?
Ants are very good at taking any small crack or gap in your home to get inside and explore. If they find anything, you can bet the whole colony will be on their way. Here are 5 ways ants may enter your home:
- Foundation cracks
- Windows that are not sealed
- Spaces under doors or between the door and the frame
- Utility lines and pipes that enter your home
- Toys or furniture which was left outside, then brought in.
It is important that if you are having ant problems that you have a pest control expert inspect your home, and any potential entry points found are fixed.
How to get rid of ants
There are a few methods you can take to get rid of ants. Some options such as DIY baits are good for catching some ants and can help if you have a small one-time ant problem. However, they often don’t catch every ant, meaning the colony will continue. As well as this they can be a bit hit and miss, with some ants just completely ignoring them.
An ant infestation is a complex issue. The best way to deal with it is by hiring pest control experts. An expert will analyse your ant infestation, and use the appropriate techniques for the situation. They will then provide you with an analysis of your home, detailing any entry points they find and more.
Conclusion
Ants are a very frustrating pest. They seemingly come out of nowhere and are difficult to get rid of. With the help of a professional pest control expert, you can easily eliminate your ant infestation and discourage them from returning.
If you are having troubles with ants, reach out to us to solve the problem.