Why Are There Ants in My House?

Those tiny black intruders are at it again. They’re on your counters, on your floors scooping up any crumb that you dare let drop. “Why are there ants in my house?” you ask as you squash another ant. 

Ants are a common pest. Most homes will encounter the occasional ant. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has never seen an ant in their house. If you are looking for an answer to the question, “Why are there ants in my house?” and some ways to combat the ants in your house, you have come to the right place.

Ants in My House

So, why are there ants in your house? As the weather warms, ants become more active. You probably notice more ants in your home during the spring and summer months. During these times, ants come into homes in search of food and water. During especially dry times, you might find ants in water-rich areas of your home like the bathroom or other humid areas as ants have a harder time finding water outdoors.

Just like you, ants seek out shelter during troubling weather conditions. During a storm, they might find their way into your home to seek shelter. 

You may have noticed that your kitchen is an ant hotspot. This is not a coincidence. Kitchens are food preparation areas. If there are ants in your home, you likely have food somewhere out in the open. 

Ants swarm to any bit of foot. Ants have an excellent sense of smell, with 4 to five times the amount of smell receptors of other insects. Not only do their receptors lead them to food, but it leads other ants to food. An ant who finds food lays down a pheromone trail that other ants can follow. Crumbs and dropped food will have a pile of ants surrounding them in very little time.

Getting Rid of Ants

The logical question to follow, “Why are there and in my house?” is, “How do I get rid of ants in my house?” Getting rid of ants is a constant battle. Ant traps, sprays, and plain old squashing will kill a good number of ants, but they will not get rid of ants completely. 

Ant Prevention

Getting rid of ants is hard. Preventing ants in the first place is more effective. Stop ants before you have to ask why are there ants in your house.

Do Not Leave Food in the Open

The number one way to prevent ants from marching into your home is to keep food away from them. Clean up spills and sweep up crumbs to prevent ants in your house. Keep chips and candies in closed containers. The less food, the less likely the ants will stick around.

If you have pets, clean their bowls. If there is any residue, the ants will see that as a snack. If your pet is a messy eater, clean up after them. Do not let pet food sit out. Only feed your pet when they are going to eat all the food in the dish. Leftover pet food is an invitation for an infestation. 

Close the Openings

If you want to get rid of ants for good, you need to keep them from coming into your house in the first place. Seal cracks and crevices and repair loose mortar around your home. Ants are tiny. These cracks and crevices are highways right into your house.

Fix Leaks

Not only does food attract ants, but so does water. Leaky pipes provide ants with a water source. It is also important that you direct drainage away from your home. 

Ant Eradication

If despite your efforts, ants make their way into your home there are a few things you can do to get rid of the ants in your house.

Clean

Anywhere you see an ant, clean. If you see an ant on your counter, take a household cleaner and wipe down the counter. This will disrupt the ant’s pheromone trail. Other ants will not find food and water as easily without the pheromone trail guiding them. 

Bait

Instead of squishing ants, put out bait. The scouts will take the bait back to their colony and poison the whole colony. Depending on the time of year and type of ant, different baits will work better than others. An expert will be able to identify what type of infestation you’re struggling with and which bait will work best. 

Call an Exterminator

The only way to completely get rid of ants in your home is to call an exterminator. They can identify points of entry and choose the right extermination method. Certain ants will respond better to bait while others need to be sprayed. An expert exterminator will know how to safely use chemicals to kill ants, but leave you and your family unharmed. The right exterminator will solve your ant problem so you no longer need to ask, “Why are there ants in my house?”

Where Do Ants Come From?

If you are wondering why there are ants in your house, you have probably wondered, “Where do ants come from?” Ants are as fascinating as they are annoying. Ants work at a remarkable speed to turn a pile of dirt into a lengthy system of tunnels and rooms. 

There are more than 12,000 species of ants in the world, but they all share some common characteristics. They have complex social organizations with a queen, workers, and soldiers. The queen is the only female breeding member of the colony. As such, killing her is important if you want to kill the entire colony. 

Most ants are benign. They are annoying and jump at the chance to ruin your open bag of chips, but do not harm otherwise. Carpenter ants pose an extra threat as they damage to wood and can compromise a house’s structural integrity over time. If you suspect a carpenter ant infestation, enlist the help of an exterminator immediately to prevent costly damage.

Contact Skeeter Beater

Whether you’re struggling with a common ant problem or a more serious carpenter ant infestation, Skeeter Beater can help. Our pest control specialists will find and remove the entire colony so you don’t need to worry about them anymore. You will no longer need to wonder “Why are there ants in my house?”