Every ant species is a nuisance for households worldwide; they are the most well-known pests worldwide. The good news is that the average ant doesn’t carry infections, but it takes effort to eliminate them. Carpenter ants are the most difficult to get rid of and cause severe damage to the part of your home made of wood.
When you see ants, you won’t deal with an ant invasion most of the time. Instead, you will see one or two in an area where you recently ate or spot a few getting in through your window if it’s left open. But on rare occasions, you will experience a sudden ant infestation and feel overwhelmed when they start taking over every room of your house.
How do you find the source of this problem? How did they gain access to your home, and what can you do to deal with this situation?
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about ant infestations and how worker ants appear out of nowhere.
What Starts A Sudden Ant Infestation Out Of Nowhere?
It’s normal when ants suddenly appear, and you have no idea what caused the infestation. A few triggers could’ve caused this infestation to occur without warning. Sometimes it will be a mix of all the factors we’ll discuss below simultaneously, but for now, we will discuss each separately.
#1 Weather Shifts
The most common cause of sporadic ant infestations is weather changes, which trumps every other factor on this list. When the weather drops, or there is a rain storm, ants run for cover into your home. It’s why a state like Utah, with freezing-cold temperatures and lots of thunderstorms, gets the most ant infestations in September and when the Spring begins.
#2 Poorly Insulated Homes Creates An Ant Problem
Ants need cracks or holes to gain access to your private property. If your home is not insulated correctly, it’s not difficult for any tiny bug to get in. Of course, it will not be 100% certain, but the better insulated your home is, it decreases the chances of a large infestation.
But what’s their favorite way to get in? Their preferred access points are damaged foundations with cracks and decomposing brickwork. Ants also like window sills and doorways that weren’t sealed correctly.
#3 Welcoming Environments For Carpenter Ants
Some homeowners believe they are safe from ants because their homes are clean, but it’s not the case. There are other ways you can make your home ant friendly, and you must stop doing it if you no longer wish for them to return.
Ants crave most foods but are more attracted to anything that contains high amounts of sugar and fat. Because of this, you will likely find them lurking in your kitchen cabinets, searching for bread, food condiments, syrups, pet food, and partially eaten fruit.
Once they finish raiding your cabinet, ants will feel thirsty, so they need to find a water source. Because of their minuscule size, it doesn’t take much water to support a family of ants.
Their favorite hydration sources are kitchen faucets and condensed water from a cooler, which keeps them satisfied and ready to hunt another day. Also, bowls on the floor left with pet food usually have water next to them that attract ants.
How to Eliminate An Ant Infestation
While most ants are harmless, killing them isn’t always easy, depending on the situation. However, below are three methods to eliminate an ant colony and ensure they never return.
#1 Dry Wet Spots and Remove Rotted Wood
Most ants have two different home bases inside your home and outside in the yard. Indoors they will keep most of the scraps they steal from you for the tough days when they fail at getting grub from your cabinets.
Remember that they prefer to set up base in wet locations, so bathtubs, window sills, and washers in your basements are places you can start inspecting for infestations.
You must repair leaks from faucets and replace any parts of your home that have water damage.
#2 Plant Ant Baits
Most ant infestations are dealt with using ant baits because they have ingredients inside them that attract ants easily. Place them in areas around your home where you noticed ants coming together, and expect the numbers to increase.
If the brand you bought doesn’t help, we suggest you try experimenting with other brands. Eventually, you will find one that works with the species of ant you’re trying to eliminate.
Another benefit of using ant baits is that after feasting on the sweet syrup inside the trap, they’ll return to their colony and share with the others. It will kill most of the population inside their territory, helping you keep the infestation under control.
#3 Try Using Ant Sprays
Bug sprays are effective against insect infestations when spraying all around the floors indoors and outdoors. However, some experts don’t recommend it because it’s only effective for a few hours before having to spray again.
Summing It Up
If you are not careful, ants can invade your home, and while they are not deadly, these insects can make your life uncomfortable.
If you spot ant nests, it could be the beginning of an infestation that you need to tackle immediately with the methods mentioned above.