Ants, Go Away

If you are having problems with ants invading your home, you are not alone. It seems this year’s ant infestation is at full swing and not letting up. Ants work together in unison to support the colony. They have survived so long because of their social organization and their ability to modify habitats, use resources and defend themselves by working in unison.

Here are a few reasons why ants are coming into your home.

1. Water

Ants are attracted to your home due to the excess amount of moisture around your home. Bathrooms and kitchen sinks are a common area for ants to nest.

2. Food

Ants can be attracted inside your home if there is accessibility to food. Ants are highly attracted to sugar and grease residue.

3. Shelter

A great way to prevent ants from entering your home is to seal up any small cracks or holes in the walls.

Ants produce new generations every year. These creatures communicate with each other by using pheromones, sounds and touch. They leave pheromone trails that can be followed by other ants. So when you see ants consistently in a line going back and forth from where they entered to their food source, they are using and leaving a pheromone trail to guide them. A crushed ant also uses pheromone that will send nearby ants into attack mode and attracts reinforcements from far away.

Here are a couple tips to use when battling ants:

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Using closed containers to store items like sugar will eliminate the smell as well. Put certain foods in zip lock bags so ants are not able to reach it. An example is a box of Krispy Creme donuts should be placed in a zip lock bag.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Ensure food is cleaned up if spilled on the floor or countertops.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Wash any dish used that would contain a sugar taste after use. Water may not entirely eliminate food scents that attract ants. Using soap or vinegar with water will take away the food scent.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Don't leave any pet food on the floor unless it's a self-feed type of pet bowl.

[if !supportLists]· [endif]Once you locate an entry area of how these nuisance pests are entering, use some type of chemical liquid to spray on the hole. An example would be to use spray clorox bleach cleanser on the point of entry hole. Also, seal windows and doors with weather stripping to prevent ants from entering.

Even though ants are a nuisance once they get into your home; however, they are extremely beneficial in our ecosystem. Ants are extremely fascinating and scientists all around the world are studying their habits.