If ants are constantly marching through your kitchen, living room, and bathroom, something might be making your home attractive to them. Homeowners constantly deal with ants. Once inside, they can be hard to eliminate. To prevent an infestation from happening, you want to know the reason these pests choose your house in the first place. Understanding what draws them to your home and how they establish their colonies indoors can help prevent such pests from taking up residence in your living space. If you are dealing with a major infestation, call a pest control company like Green Pest Services to evaluate the situation and address the issue. Pest control experts will address the underlying cause of the problem and develop a suitable treatment plan. Ants may be invading your home because of the following reasons:
They are Looking for Food
Ants are constantly searching for dependable food sources, and your home may offer lots of options. When a scout ant finds a food source, it leaves behind a pheromone trail to guide other colony members to the feast. The food sources can include crumbs and spills, sugary substances, unsealed pantry items, and greasy and protein-rich food. Cleaning your kitchen regularly, wiping down surfaces, and keeping food stored in airtight containers can eradicate possible food sources and discourage ants from sticking around.
They Get Water and Moisture from Your Home
As with humans, ants need water to survive. Any sources of moisture in your house can attract ants, particularly during dry spells or harsh weather conditions. Areas that are rich in moisture include leaky pipes and faucets, damp or humid areas, and standing water. You can minimize moisture levels in your house and make it less attractive to ants by improving ventilation, fixing leaks, and using dehumidifiers.
They are Seeking Shelter
As outdoor environmental conditions become unfavorable, ants look for shelter indoors. Extreme heat, heavy rain, or cold weather can drive ants inside, where they take advantage of stable temperatures and protection against the elements. Ants build their nests inside walls, under floors and baseboards, near appliances, and inside electrical outlet, depending on the species. Fixing foundation gaps, sealing cracks, and eliminating clutter can prevent ants from discovering a comfortable space to settle inside your house.
They Discover Entry Points
The size of ants allows them to squeeze through tiny openings. Usually, they find their way inside homes through cracks and gaps to find food and shelter. They can access your home through poorly sealed windows and doors, foundation cracks, vents and chimneys, and utility openings. Inspecting your home regularly and sealing possible entry points using weather stripping or caulk can keep ants out.
Some Ants Prefer to Live Indoors
Although the majority of ants prefer to stay indoors, others may invade houses and establish colonies inside permanently. Examples of indoor ant species include Argentine ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, odorous house ants, and pharaoh ants. Knowing the species that has infested your house can help you pick an effective control method to eradicate them.
What You Can Do to Keep Ants at Bay
If ants have invaded your property, you can control them and prevent reinfestations by using bait stations. Ant baits are like ant magnets and let the pests carry poison back to their colonies. This eradicates the infestation source. Also, you can create natural barriers by sprinkling diatomaceous earth, coffee grounds, or Cinnamon near entry points to deter ants. A mixture of water and vinegar is believed to erase pheromone trails and prevent ants from coming back. Also, you can try using homemade traps made out of sugar and borax to minimize ant populations over time.
