Given their tiny size and tenacious nature, ants are easily one of the most pervasive pests. Once a scout ant finds a viable food source and reports back to the colony, it opens the floodgates for an endless stream of foraging ants to make their way into your home.
Understanding how ants enter your home is vital to slowing their advance and saving your property from undue damage. Pinpoint Full Service Pest Control is here to help you identify and educate you on this phenomenon. Here, we will discuss what to look for when you start to notice ants in your home so that you can take proactive measures to keep them outside where they belong.
How Ants Create Trails
As mentioned, ants often deploy scouts to find food sources and efficient routes to get to them. If allowed to make it back to the colony, they create a scent trail for other ants to follow. If you notice a large amount of ants in your kitchen or elsewhere in the home, study their movements and see if there is an organized line they follow. This will identify areas to clean, as removing the scent trail disrupts their movements.
Ants are able to squeeze through the most minor cracks and gaps in the foundation of your home. Follow the trail of ants before you clean, so you can pinpoint the entrances and routes they use in the outside walls and within your floors. Do a thorough assessment of your home’s exterior and try to find and seal as many gaps in your foundation as possible.
How We Let Ants Gain Access
Windows and doors are common places for ants to get in, but the various fixtures, vents, pipes and lines we need to run through our homes can also create openings for opportunistic ants to use. Poor seals around dryer vents, plumbing pipes, electrical lines and cables can give ants all the space they need to make it into the house.
Ants can also use the foliage and water sources around your house to aid them in their movement into your home. Low-hanging branches and foliage create useful bridges for ants. Any debris, mulch or overgrown plants trap moisture and provide shelter for ants, allowing them to settle close to the house and eventually find their way in.
Call a Professional
We at Pinpoint Pest Control understand the value of proper ant prevention. These persistent pests can cause severe structural damage to your home, spread disease and destroy food. If you have an existing ant problem requiring professional intervention, or if you would like more information on effective prevention methods, contact our team of knowledgeable technicians today.
