Pest Control – Why are Ants a Big Issue in Summer?

You never notice ants during the winter, do you? You wouldn’t – they would be covered under thick snow and frozen in ice. Ants, like many other animals, hibernate during the brutal winter months to avoid the cold. They’re usually buried deep under the snow and waiting for the warmer weather when they’ll become more active. While there’s no real ‘quiet time’ for pest control experts, winter isn’t particularly busy for our team when it comes to ants. In springtime and summertime though, that all changes. There are several different species, each of them differing in behaviour and activities. However, they all have one thing in common: they need food. If you’re not careful, they could be finding it in your home.

Ants in the Warmer Months

After waiting patiently, buried deep underground for the long winter months, ants will begin to emerge and build new nests. In spring and summer, the nest and the queen are moved outside. These ants will have a busy start and are also very likely to be searching for food. Even if the weathers still a little cool outside they’ll begin with their plans. Whether they’re searching for water, heat or food, there’s a good chance that the comfort of your home will appeal to them. Your home could be a refuge from predators, or a precious food source for pavement ants, thief ants, pharaoh ants, carpenter ants or citronella ants. These are the species you’re likely to find in your home.

What Brings Ants into Your Home?

So now that you’ve spotted ants in your home, you’re going to have to figure out if it’s a one-off, or if you have a problem which will need professional pest control. If you know what they’re searching for in your home, then you’ll know how to combat any potential infestation. First of all, ants are coming to your home for heat. In summertime, the nights can be cool and your home will provide them with the warmth they need. If you have any sort of water resource handy then they’ll want to feed on that. Finally, a food source will keep them very, very satisfied as well. If there are easily accessible food and plenty of it, then they’re going to keep on coming back. If you offer any sort of combination of heat, water, and food, then chances are you’re going to end up with a serious ant infestation.

What Can You Do to Keep Them Away?

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, you might have made access to your home just a little too easy for these pests. They can feed off crumbs and thanks to their tiny size, find their way through the smallest of gaps. Make sure that you keep your food storage and cooking areas tidy and clean. This also applies to dining areas: it’s essential that you keep these areas as clean as possible and don’t provide easy food particle access to ants. In particular, they’ll be attracted to sweet food so be careful when using sugar and honey. You’ll also want to make sure that your house insulation is efficient and effective. Address any obvious holes, gaps, or cracks near windows. You can even take the extra step of spraying cracks and any potential entry points with an insect spray – both inside and out. However, when all is said and done, you’re probably going to want to seek the help of the pest control experts. At Truly Nolen, we have more experience than anybody when dealing with these pesky pests. Our proactive and unique solutions will make sure your ant infestation will be nothing more than a bad memory.