Have you noticed there is usually an increase of ants in your house in spring? For many homeowners this can quickly become a problem. But why does it happen and what can you do about this?
Once you have ants in your house in spring it can be incredibly difficult to get rid of them. They don’t usually live inside your home, unless they are carpenter ants, but come in from outdoors, where they build their nests. Ants can burrow deep into the ground, and create complex tunnel systems. These colonies are highly resistant to the outside world. This means that getting rid of ants is usually very difficult.
Ants in your house in spring are looking for food
Why are there ants in your house in spring? The reason why is simple. These pests are mostly looking for food. You see, during winter, ants go into a more dormant state. During this period it is usually too cold for them to survive above ground for very long.
Ants will store up food and hide out in the warmth of their colony. When spring arrives, they emerge and start to seek out new sources of food. Many ants will also seek out new areas to live, and may even construct a new colony. Your garden can easily become overrun with ants that ruin your lawn.
What can you do about ants in your home?
If you’re dealing with an ant problem, the first course of action is to get your home clean. Because the ants are looking for food, this means you kitchen should be spotless at all times. Clean up as you go along and do not leave bits of food lying around. Overflowing bins will attract ants. So also try to empty them as often as possible – and get bins that seal.
Another problem with ants is the trails they create. When ants find a source of food they return to the nest. When doing this they leave pheromones behind. These chemical scent trails allow other ants to make their way back to the food source. These trails also make it extra difficult to get rid of ants.
You can continue to clean the affected areas, and hope that the ants go away. Sometimes this works. However, if the problem persists, then your best bet is to call in an exterminator who can help you with professional ant control and remove the infestation.
