Why Ants Invade You Home and How to Keep Them Out in Clermont

Dana Williamson
Posted by February 6, 2024 February 6, 2024

Ants are a nuisance pest that can live indoors or outdoors. Given the size of ant populations, eliminating an infestation can be harder than you think. There are many Clermont Pest Control experts available who have extensive experience in handling ant issues. Also, they know how to prevent an infestation from happening again in the future. They can advise you on the steps you can take to prevent ants from invading your living space. 

Common Kinds of Ants

Below are the types of ants that are found indoors:

  • Carpenter ants. These ants chew smooth tunnels through wood and create nests there. These species can seriously damage your home’s wooden structures. 
  • Pavement ants. These ants access homes through cracks in concrete slabs and foundations. Their nests are often found in the soil underneath surfaces. These species eat sugary food, pet food, bread, garbage, meat, and other things.
  • Odorous house ants. These ants smell like rotten coconut when crushed. When they enter your house, they nest near moist areas and inside termite-damaged wood. They eat anything sweet and can contaminate food supplies. 
  • Black ants. These little ants scavenge and eat sweet and fatty food. Often, they live in rotting wood and wall voids. 

Keeping Ants Out

Taking the steps below along with professional pest control can keep your house free of ants:

  • Hide all sources of food. Often, ants set up shop in homes due to accessible food sources. They feed on food crumbs, protein, sugar, and nearly all edible things they have access to. To eliminate their food sources, seal your food containers tightly and clean kitchen surfaces regularly. There should not be leftovers lying around, particularly at night. Make sure to clean up spills right away, especially sugary liquids such as honey, soda, or maple syrup. In addition, ensure you also dispose of food properly. This means sealing trash bins and putting fruit peels in tied plastic bags.
  • Clean your house regularly. Mop and vacuum your house regularly to make it less attractive to ants. Make sure to clean under furniture items and carpets. If your family snacks on the sofa or in bed, dust your furniture frequently.

Similarly, all surfaces in your home must be dusted daily. Did you know that ants move in defined lines? These insects follow a scent trail their scouts create. Wiping surfaces will clear away such a scent trail, which makes it hard for the pests to reach their source of food or nesting area.

  • Treat moisture issues. Typically, ants live in damp areas, making your bathroom, window edges, and basement a common target. To prevent an ant infestation, inspect your home for leaks and fix them immediately. Carpenter ants are especially attracted to water-damaged wood because they can easily tunnel through it. That is why an ant invasion usually happens in patios and decks. Moreover, consider storing firewood away from your home. Wood logs can rot and these tiny insects thrive in rotting wood. 

Although these tips can help keep ants out of your house, remember that these insects are social. Thus, even if you just spot a few ants inside your house, hundreds of them may follow inside in no time. To eliminate a full ant infestation, trust the pros to do their job.