Ants in the home are usually caused by factors such as food, environment, seasonal changes and the habits of the ants themselves. Ants are highly social insects that build nests and communicate with each other through pheromones to find food. Once they find a suitable living environment at home, they may appear in groups. The following are the main reasons for the appearance of ants in the home and their solutions.
Ants are omnivorous insects that are particularly interested in foods such as sugars, proteins, and fats. If the following conditions exist in the home, it is easy to attract ants:
Uncleaned food residues (such as sugar stains, juice, bread crumbs)
Unsealed food (such as cookies, candies, honey).
Garbage cans that are not cleaned in time and garbage bags with food residues will attract ants.
Pet food, especially cat or dog food scattered on the ground.
Ants need not only food but also water to survive. Ants may be attracted to a humid environment at home, for example:
Dripping faucets near the kitchen sink
Wet corners of the bathroom, such as the edge of the bathtub and the bottom of the toilet.
Wet soil in plant pots, some ants will choose to build nests in wet soil.
In spring and summer, ants will be more active and look for new food sources.
Before and after rain, ants may go indoors to find shelter from the rain.
In the cold winter, some ants may seek warm shelters to avoid the cold.
If ants often appear in your home, it may mean:
The cracks in the wall, floor or hidden corners of your home have become ant nests.
There are ant nests in the soil of the garden, yard or balcony, and ants enter the house through windows or cracks.
There are warm and suitable spaces for nesting inside electrical appliances (such as behind the refrigerator and under the microwave oven).
When ants are looking for food, they secrete pheromones (chemical signals) to form an ant "road", and other ants will follow this path to find food. If you find that there is always a fixed route for ants in your home, it means that they have found a stable way to enter the house.
Clean up food residues in a timely manner, especially sweets and greasy substances.
Store food in airtight containers, such as sealed jars and ziplock bags.
Clean the kitchen, dining table, and floors to ensure there are no sugar stains or food crumbs left.
Keep trash cans covered and remove trash every day to avoid attracting ants.
Repair leaking faucets and keep the house dry to reduce the chances of ants getting water.
Check the gaps between doors, windows, corners and floors, and seal small holes with sealant.
Use anti-ant spray around doors and windows, or sprinkle anti-ant powder (such as diatomaceous earth).
If the ants come from the flower pots, you can change the soil appropriately and sprinkle some anti-ant powder on the bottom of the pots.
Use vinegar water (white vinegar + water 1:1) to wipe the ant path to destroy the pheromone.
Use soapy water to wipe the place where the ants crawled. The soap will decompose the pheromone and prevent other ants from following the original path.
Lemon juice or orange peel: Ants hate citric acid, so you can spray lemon juice near the ant path.
Cinnamon powder, chili powder or coffee grounds: These strong-smelling powders can deter ants from entering.
Peppermint essential oil: Dilute peppermint essential oil with water and spray it on areas where ants are common to effectively repel ants.
If the ant problem is serious, you can use professional ant bait:
Boric acid + sugar water: Mix and place on the ant path. The ants will carry the toxin back to the nest, gradually destroying the entire colony.
Commercially available ant baits: such as insecticide powder and ant glue bait, can effectively eliminate ants in the nest.
Different types of ants appearing in the home may represent different reasons for invasion:
| Ant species | Characteristics | Possible sources | Prevention and control methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small yellow house ant (Pharaoh ant) | Very small, yellow or light brown | Kitchen, food cabinet, trash can | Clean food, seal food, use bait to eliminate nests |
| Black ants (small black house ants) | Small, black or brown | Floor cracks, windows, balconies | Seal the entrance and wipe the path with vinegar water |
| Big-headed ants | Big head and small body, brown | Wet areas, such as bathrooms | Keep dry and repair leaks |
| Red fire ants | Reddish-brown, aggressive, bites | Gardens, yards | Need professional pest control |
Keep your home clean and clean up food scraps and garbage regularly.
Seal food and water sources to avoid attracting ants.
Block the paths for ants to enter, such as gaps in doors and windows, cracks in corners of walls, etc.
Use natural ant repellent methods (such as lemon, cinnamon, vinegar water) to prevent ants from invading again.
If the ant problem is serious, you can use bait or ask a professional pest control company to deal with it.
Through these methods, you can effectively reduce the appearance of ants in your home, maintain a clean environment, and avoid the troubles caused by ants.
animal tags： ants
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