Spring and summer are not just a welcome change for us humans, but other living creatures too! Not only do we start enjoying more outdoor activities, but some annoying critters also feel this is the right time to expand their colonies. As the weather gradually becomes warm, it also calls for the incoming of various pests and insects and a high chance of having an infestation. One of the most troubling pests that become very active during this period is the ant.
The first indication of having a potential ant infestation is to find them swarming inside your kitchen or in the living room. Spotting ants crawling out of clay mounds or from your flower pots in addition to walking along the windowsills and countertops are clear indications of ants making your house their home too. During late spring and the onset of summer, ants begin to build their mounds and venture out in search of food, and in the process, they don’t even mind invading our homes.
How to Prevent Ants from Crawling All Over the Place?
There are some easy methods that you can apply to restrict ants from barging into your home unwanted. Following these simple techniques will assure you of an ant-free household for the rest of the summer.
- Keep Surfaces Clean – Everyone needs food, and it’s true for these pests as well. The last thing you would want is to have leftovers of your favorite meal lying on the floor, attracting the tiny red insects. Therefore, first and foremost, keep all your rooms and visible surfaces clean and waste-free. Sweep and vacuum regularly and mope to ensure that no food leftovers remain for the ants to devour.
Store Away Food – Keeping food in open places will attract all kinds of pests and make the food unhygienic. Instead, store food in air-tight containers to keep them fresh and locked away for good, out of reach from these notorious pests.
- Watch Out for Scout Ants – Scout ants lead the way for the queen and the worker ants in their quest to find a habitable place and settle down. The ‘scout’ ants, as their name suggests, are responsible for investigating the nearby area (including your home) to find new shelter locations. If you find these ants anywhere near your doorstep, more of them are sure to follow.
- Deploy Ant Baits – Once you see ants in your house, don’t hesitate to place ant baits in the areas where they are most active. As soon as some of them are attracted to the bait, the toxic chemicals would be carried over to their colony, where it would kill them in large numbers. These baits can help eliminate the entire colony instead of only a handful.
- Remove Ant Trails – If ants have already found their entry into your house, you should immediately look for the place they are coming from and eliminate their trails to prevent them from re-entering. A mixture of vinegar and water, when applied over the entire length of the ant trail, will disrupt their path and force them away. Scout ants leave behind scents for fellow ants to follow. Applying the vinegar-water mixture removes this scent and therefore restricts their invasion.
- Control Ant Colonies – If you take an afternoon stroll around your home, you will encounter several ant mounds in your garden. These are the location of existing ant colonies. If you don’t take necessary action to stem the growth of such ant colonies in your backyard, your house might never get rid of an ant invasion.
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- Eliminate Water Sources – Reducing moisture and stagnant water around your house can greatly help reduce ants’ growth. Repair any leaky pipes and conduct routine checks under your kitchen sinks and below the washbasins to avoid moisture accumulation.
- Block Entry Points – Take a day off to fully inspect your house to find all the entry points for ants into your house. Trim the bushes and clean your flower pots to avoid ants hiding right under your nose. Seal all existing cracks and crevices to prevent ants from sneaking into your kitchen and living room using silicone caulk.
Ants are a number one nuisance among all the pests, and their large number of species in Huntsville makes them a real headache for all of us. Whether it’s the pavement ants or the more common odorous house ants, keeping them off your house must be your main priority. Following the above steps would reduce your chances of inviting ants unknowingly inside your home. If you need any help in the matter, don’t hesitate to give A Plus Pest Control a call.
Store Away Food – Keeping food in open places will attract all kinds of pests and make the food unhygienic. Instead, store food in air-tight containers to keep them fresh and locked away for good, out of reach from these notorious pests.
- Watch Out for Scout Ants – Scout ants lead the way for the queen and the worker ants in their quest to find a habitable place and settle down. The ‘scout’ ants, as their name suggests, are responsible for investigating the nearby area (including your home) to find new shelter locations. If you find these ants anywhere near your doorstep, more of them are sure to follow.
- Deploy Ant Baits – Once you see ants in your house, don’t hesitate to place ant baits in the areas where they are most active. As soon as some of them are attracted to the bait, the toxic chemicals would be carried over to their colony, where it would kill them in large numbers. These baits can help eliminate the entire colony instead of only a handful.
- Remove Ant Trails – If ants have already found their entry into your house, you should immediately look for the place they are coming from and eliminate their trails to prevent them from re-entering. A mixture of vinegar and water, when applied over the entire length of the ant trail, will disrupt their path and force them away. Scout ants leave behind scents for fellow ants to follow. Applying the vinegar-water mixture removes this scent and therefore restricts their invasion.
- Control Ant Colonies – If you take an afternoon stroll around your home, you will encounter several ant mounds in your garden. These are the location of existing ant colonies. If you don’t take necessary action to stem the growth of such ant colonies in your backyard, your house might never get rid of an ant invasion.
Peppermint Oil
- Eliminate Water Sources – Reducing moisture and stagnant water around your house can greatly help reduce ants’ growth. Repair any leaky pipes and conduct routine checks under your kitchen sinks and below the washbasins to avoid moisture accumulation.
- Block Entry Points – Take a day off to fully inspect your house to find all the entry points for ants into your house. Trim the bushes and clean your flower pots to avoid ants hiding right under your nose. Seal all existing cracks and crevices to prevent ants from sneaking into your kitchen and living room using silicone caulk.
Ants are a number one nuisance among all the pests, and their large number of species in Huntsville makes them a real headache for all of us. Whether it’s the pavement ants or the more common odorous house ants, keeping them off your house must be your main priority. Following the above steps would reduce your chances of inviting ants unknowingly inside your home. If you need any help in the matter, don’t hesitate to give A Plus Pest Control a call.
