What attracts ants – Are you curious to know what attracts ants? If so, know all about it here in this article. An ant may look small and harmless, but if you do not handle them properly they can become a big problem. People often does not know how to do, and try things that simply patch things up temporarily. It is not always easy to find the source of the ant problem, and it can take a long time to get rid of them.
If you see even one or two ants in your house, there are probably many more around. In this article, we will look at what attracts ants come to your home, how to stop them, and what to do if you have lots of ants:
What Attracts Ants?
If you spot ants in your house, it is hard to tell how they got there or why.
Food
The general reason is easily obtainable food. Although small, these creatures have amazing odor receptors: over 400 in number. Different types of ants like different foods, but most are into sugar and grease. Even spills or messes you forget about can attract them every so often. Besides, even if the food is in a cabinet and not in the fridge, ants can still smell it.
Even though ants are not exactly pantry pests, they might also be interested in dry foods like flour or grains if these are not stored safely.
Water
Having too much water around can also make ants interested. If you see ants in places like your bathroom, basement, or attic, it is often because of water. Like, carpenter ants like to build nests under sinks and tiles in bathrooms because those places are damp. If there are ants, there might be a leak check around sinks, toilets, and tubs for any leaks. Even if you’ve stored food well in your kitchen, ants might be attracted to water.
Preventing Ants in Your Home
Kitchen
Keeping your kitchen clean is super important to stop ants. Ensure first to clean floors and countertops daily with soap (only water might not completely get rid of smells that attract ants). Clean up any spills as fast as possible, mainly if they are greasy or sugary. Pay extra attention to cracks or small spaces where food could fall, and watch out for kids hiding food around the house.
Also, ensure that you have cleaned indoor trash cans and throw them every day. Put perishable food in a bag before throwing it in the dustbin, and keep outdoor trash cans far away from the house’ entrance.
Bathroom
To prevent ants in your bathroom, clean it well to get rid of any puddles of water. Scrub the inside drawers and floors with a cleaner. The kitchen sink might also attract ants because of water, so try to keep the sink and nearby areas dry.
Getting Away of Ants
In some cases, ants might decide to build a nest inside your hidden spots or home walls. This does not happen a lot, but when it does, you might need a professional like Aptive if bug sprays or other treatments don’t work. Certain ant species, like pavement ants, often make nests in home foundations.
If you already have a bunch of ants, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them. First, try to figure out what they are attracted to, and then remove that thing. Like, if there is a piece of pie next to the fridge, they will probably leave once you take away their food.
If you can not find exactly where they are coming from, follow all the steps we talked about earlier to prevent ants. Clean your kitchen really well to get rid of old spills and crumbs. If that does not work, check your home for any leaks.
But sometimes, you might have tough ants that make a nest in your home. You can try using products you can buy without a prescription to get rid of them. Ant traps and some repellents might work, but in many cases, you will need a professional to do a full ant extermination. A company like Aptive Environmental can find the source of the problem and get rid of it fast. They focus on getting rid of the current ant problem and preventing future ones. If the ants come back, Aptive will come back too, and you would not have to pay extra.
Some FAQs
Why do ants suddenly appear?
Another reason your house may be attractive to ants is that it protects them from excessive heat or cold. If your ant problem cropped up seemingly overnight, see if there is a connection between this and recent weather occurrences whether floods, heat waves, or frosts.
What attracts ants?
Ants in particular are very excited about liquefied sugars and sweets to eat, but if you leave any human or pet tucker lying around this will do just as well. These clever pests can be eaten from counters and pet food dishes. Be sure to keep your kitchen and other areas of your home free of crumbs.
What smells attract ants?
With a strong sense of smell, ants are quite able to sniff out sugar and sweets. Chocolate, honey, and anything sweet are particularly enticing to them. They’ll also be attracted to greasy foods or complex carbohydrates. Just a few crumbs on the floor means that within minutes ants are crawling around the room.
What do ants hate most?
Since linalool is a good repellent for any pests you can plant lavender, eucalyptus, mint, basil, oregano, and thyme among other things.
