Summer is all about sunshine, backyard fun, and fresh air, but it’s also when ants tend to show up uninvited. If you’ve noticed tiny ants marching across your kitchen counters or patio, you’re definitely not alone. Many homeowners in the Midwest ask the same question this season: how can I keep ants out home and enjoy a pest-free space?
Let’s break down everything you need to know about why ants become so active in warm weather how to keep ants out home and when it is time to call in a professional.
Why Are Ants So Active in Warm Weather?
Ants thrive in summer for one simple reason. Warmer temperatures give them more energy and make them start searching for food and water. As the soil warms up, their colonies become more active. In the Midwest, the humidity and occasional rain create the perfect conditions for ants to be busy both outside and inside your home. Knowing this can help you find the best ways to keep ants out home all season long.
Food crumbs, standing water, and pet bowls left on the floor can quickly turn your kitchen into a magnet for ants. When a few ants discover a tasty food source, they leave behind a scent trail using chemicals called pheromones. This trail guides the rest of the colony right to the spot. Keeping these attractants under control is key to keeping ants out home.
Most Common Ants in the Midwest
To keep ants out home effectively, it helps to know what kind of ants you’re dealing with. Some ants are just a nuisance, but others can cause serious damage if ignored. Identifying the type of ant inside or around your home is the first step to understanding the infestation and finding the right way to handle it.
The Four Most Common Ants in our Service Area Include:
Odorous House Ants
These tiny ants are dark brown or black and get their name because they release a strong smell when crushed. Odorous house ants often come into homes during summer looking for sweet foods. Knowing about them can help you keep ants out home more effectively.
Pavement Ants
These small dark ants usually nest under concrete structures and love to make their homes in the cracks of sidewalks. When they build nests, pavement ants create donut-shaped mounds from soil they move around. They often search for greasy and sweet foods inside homes, so it’s important to take steps to keep ants out home.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are much larger than most ants found in the Midwest and can cause serious damage by nesting in wood. They don’t eat the wood but hollow it out to make their nests. A clear sign of a carpenter ant problem is sawdust around wooden areas of your home. Knowing this can help you take the right steps to keep ants out home and protect your property.
Pharaoh Ants
These tiny golden ants are often found in busy buildings like hospitals, dorms, and apartments. Pharaoh ants prefer warm and humid spots inside a home. They search for both greasy and sweet foods, making it important to keep ants out home by eliminating these food sources and nesting areas.
Odorous house ants, pavement ants, and pharaoh ants all have multiple queens in their colonies. They can spread by a process called budding, where one queen and some workers leave to start a new colony nearby. This makes it harder to keep ants out home because the problem can quickly multiply if not handled properly.
How to Keep Ants Out of Your Home
Keeping ants out home starts with simple prevention. By adjusting a few daily habits and paying attention to your home’s exterior, you can make your space much less inviting to ants.
Here are some practical steps to take:
Seal cracks and gaps
Check windows, door frames, baseboards, and your home’s foundation for any cracks or gaps and seal them to help keep ants out home.
Keep your kitchen clean
Wipe down surfaces, sweep crumbs, and store food in airtight containers to make your home less attractive to hungry, foraging ants.
Address moisture problems
Wipe down surfaces regularly, sweep up crumbs, and store food in airtight containers to keep ants out home and away from your kitchen.
Take out trash regularly
Make sure both indoor and outdoor trash bins have tight-fitting lids and are kept clean to help keep ants out home.
Trim outdoor plants
Trim bushes and tree limbs so they don’t touch your home since ants can use them as a bridge to get inside. This helps keep ants out home more effectively.
Even with these steps, ants might still find their way inside, especially if there’s a large nest nearby or your home provides perfect conditions for them to survive. Staying vigilant is key to keeping ants out home.
Why DIY Doesn’t Work
Many do-it-yourself solutions promise to solve ant problems, but they often only deal with the ants you see. Over-the-counter sprays and traps might kill some ants, but they usually don’t reach the entire colony. Sometimes DIY treatments can even make things worse by causing ants to spread and create new nests. Without getting rid of the source, the ant problem can come back or get worse, making it harder to keep ants out home.
When to Call a Pro
If you notice ants in several areas of your home, see large numbers daily, or find signs like sawdust from carpenter ants, it’s a good idea to contact a licensed pest control professional. Experts can identify the species, find the nest, and use targeted treatments to remove the whole colony. They will also help you put preventive steps in place to keep ants out home and reduce the chance of future infestations.
Ants may be small, but they can quickly become a big nuisance during the summer months. By understanding their behavior and taking proactive steps, you can stay in control and keep ants out home. If ants keep coming back, it’s best to get help from a trusted professional who can handle the problem thoroughly and safely.
