Many of us associate ants with summer. Ants are more visible in the warmer months, especially in cold areas like the Capital and Hudson Valley regions. Ants are cold-blooded, so they hibernate during much of the winter, emerging in the spring and summer to find food and reproduce. If you see ants around or in your home, it’s time to take action to minimize their presence and avoid potential problems.
When you see one or two stray ants, those are scouts sent out by the colony to look for food, water, and shelter. When they identify your home as an attractive target, the scouts return to the colony and spread the word. That’s when you will likely see long trails of ants marching single file into your kitchen or garden. Even if you can’t locate the anthills, the ants have established a presence near your home.
Ants are skilled at finding what they need.
Your home has a buffet of food and water sources for ants to enjoy. Many people unintentionally invite the ants onto the property by making food and water more available. If you have food debris inside or outside, ants will find it. Even trash cans stored near your home will encourage ants to investigate further.
Ants also need water and can find it in convenient locations around your home, including standing water (which also can attract mosquitos) in plant receptacles, children’s toys and pools, and rain puddles. They may also march into your kitchen and head for the sink if there is no water outside.
How can I prevent ant infestations?
First, minimize the outdoor sources of food and water. If you have a meal outside, clear away as much food, even crumbs, as possible. Check carefully for water, and move trash cans and woodpiles away from the home.
It’s harder to keep ants from taking shelter in your home. Their size gives them easy access to your house through the smallest cracks. Still, it’s worth the effort to seal fissures in the foundation and exterior walls and add caulking gaps around windows and doors.
Get professional help.
The most effective way to reduce and eliminate ant invasions is to get help from a professional pest control provider like Thomas Pest Services. Our friendly and experienced team members know that different ant varieties respond to various control methods. The Capital District and Adirondack region are home to several ant species, and each house needs a unique plan for optimal treatment to eradicate the current infestation and discourage new colonization. While many ants are harmless, some are very destructive. Even the non-threatening ants are a nuisance. Consulting with a local ant exterminator is a good approach to managing this annoying problem.
To get started, we inspect the premises to identify the ant species and select the best treatment protocol. The initial treatment will eliminate the ants you see, but ongoing service will help reduce re-infestation. Our Complete Care Plan offers comprehensive protection with interior and exterior treatments of our ecological process and continual monitoring to ensure ongoing remediation.
Don’t share your home with ants–instead, call Thomas Pest Services to protect your property and peace of mind.