Ants are resilient survivors. When stuck in water, they will stick together to create a floating raft to survive.
The amazing survival abilities of ants makes them both a fascinating creature and a nuisance to homeowners. Ants are frustratingly persistent when it comes to invading the home.
But what attracts ants in the first place? Read on to learn how to keep ants out of our place and keep them from coming at all.
What Attracts Ants: Why Are There Ants in My Home?
Keep in mind these ant prevention tips in mind as you handle ants in the summer or any other time of year:
- Different ants may require different approaches
- Ants need nourishment more than shelter, so if you keep your home clean, you can take away ants’ incentive to invade
- Create barriers to ants’ entry
- Call a professional if necessary
Identify Your Ants
Most of us are familiar with little black ants, and these tips will work fine on those. But if you notice an unusual-looking type of ant in your home this summer, you might need to look it up online and find out if it requires any special countermeasures.
Keep Your Home Clean
Make sure your surfaces and especially your floor is free of any crumbs or spills. Ants are attracted to free food.
Keep Your Home Dry
The kitchen and bathroom are the most common places to find an ant invasion. The kitchen may seem obvious, but why the bathroom?
An often overlooked fact about ants is that they’re in search of water as much as they’re in search of food. Keeping your home dry is just as important as keeping it clean.
Make sure you fix any leaking faucets and that your sinks and showers dry quickly after use. Any standing water can attract an ant infestation.
Store Your Food in Airtight Containers
A nice, clean countertop with a cookie jar on top may be perfectly clean, but that’s not enough to make it ant-proof. While cleanliness is vital, the smell of food can still attract ants, so it’s important to use airtight containers.
Plastic containers, carefully sealed plastic bags, and the refrigerator are all ways to make sure that ants can’t smell any food coming from your house.
Map Out the Ant Trails
If you do find ants in your home, follow the path they take in and out of the home. This knowledge of their travel routes is key to increasing your defenses.
Increase Your Defenses
You can use a variety of techniques to stop ants inside the home.
First, you can physically block ants by sealing up any cracks or holes they may be entering through.
You can also use a baby powder barrier, which ants will not cross. Repellants are a versatile way to create a chemical barrier to keep ants out.
Lastly, you can use bait poison. Place it where your ants travel and they will take it back to the nest, where it may eliminate the queen and end your troubles.
Call an Exterminator
For serious problems that you want ended for good, a professional exterminator can take the burden off your shoulder and get the job done.
Keeping Your Home Pest-Free
We hope you’ve learned something about what attracts ants and how to stop them. To learn more about managing all kinds of insect pests, check out our other articles!
If you live in Southern Maryland, or Northern Virginia and need help please call us now or visit our website here.