No matter the season, ants will always be there, up and thriving. However, biologically, they are active the most during the spring and summer months. So, ants inside your house can be seasonal as well as the year-round problem that you need to tackle. Once they discover a great food source, ants will continue to come inside and sometimes, reside in your house. Ants are social insects, and they will build their nest inside your house if there are enough food sources accessible. If you have an ant infestation in your house and want to know why ants enter your home, it is important to know what attracts ants to your home.
In this post, we will discuss the factors that have made ants the permanent houseguests in your home.
#1 Food
When it comes to ants, they are foragers. That is, they not only scavenge for food but also notifies other ants of the potential food sources through pheromone trails or scent. Ants follow a diverse diet and can be considered omnivores. They can easily smell food from a distance. So, if there is any food spillage or crumbs in the kitchen, they will easily know about it. Keep the kitchen and pantry clean and refrigerate foods when possible.
#2 Water
While water plays a critical part in ants’ survival, they don’t depend on large water sources. In most cases, they get hydration from the food they eat. But some ant species build their nest near a reliable water source. So, if you find ants roaming near the kitchen or bathroom, it can be a possibility that they have nested somewhere in that region. On the other hand, there are some ant species like carpenter ants that are attracted to moist areas such as damp wood, leaky pipes, etc. So, ensure that your home’s plumbing is up and running without any leaks and complications.
#3 Reproduction and Propagation
During springtime, homeowners most likely encounter the flying ants. These are reproductive ants that develop in the colony all along. As the colony matures, it gets densely inhabited. Once these ants mate, the male ants die while the female ant looks for new places to build the colony and lay eggs. Your home is one of the best places to colonize these ants.
#4 Habitat and Climate
Ants, like most of the insects, are cold-blooded. Hence, they hugely rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature. During winters, ants may seek out the warmth and coziness of your home to avoid cold. Some ants reside inside the wood structure in our home as it provides the necessary heat and moisture to the ants.
The following are the common ant species that are invasive and found around our homes:
· Pharaoh ants
· Field ants
· Fire ants
· Pavement ants
· Crazy ants
· Carpenter ants
· Odorous house ants
· Argentine ants
· Acrobat ants
Call a pest control company if the invasion has reached out to the maximum.
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