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Top 5 Reasons You Have Ants in Your Home

In Florida, it is not uncommon for homeowners to discover that they have ants in their house. The presence of ants in your home does not mean that you need to clean your home. In fact, your home could be sparkling clean, and you might still have a problem with an ant infestation. Continue reading to learn the top five reasons for why you have ants in your home.

At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we are happy to offer free estimates along with same-day inspections so that you can begin to deal with your pest problem as soon as possible. Contact us today for the professional pest control services you need.

1. Alternate Sources of Food

Sometimes ants are unable to find a good food source outside due to changes in the weather, the destruction of their habitat, or overpopulation. Whatever the reason, if they are trying to find an alternative source of food, then your kitchen is likely to be ground zero for their new home.

You can help make your kitchen a less attractive food source for ants by making sure to thoroughly wipe down the counters after each meal. Additionally, make sure to look at your counters for any food that is particularly attractive to ants, and store these items in the refrigerator. Sugar, butter, and cereal are just a few of the foods that ants really seem to love.

2. Sources of Water

Like all animals, ants need water, and if they can’t find a good source outside, then they are likely to enter your home looking for water. Check for excess moisture in and around your home to make sure that you are not providing a source of water for them. For example, check under bathroom sinks and around the tiles, as these areas tend to hold more moisture than others.

3. Shelter

Ants need to find shelter, which makes the walls of your home an ideal spot for their colony. If you’ve noticed ants inside, then it’s important to check some of the most common areas they use to enter your home. Inspect the weather stripping around windows and outside doors to make sure there are no cracks or tears. Seal any cracks or small holes in the walls or floors of your home for further ant prevention.

4. Weather

Ants are cold-blooded, which means that they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. While Florida doesn’t really experience the extreme cold temperatures that occur in other parts of the country, the weather can get cold for native Floridians. Just like you, ants want to find somewhere that is warmer, which means that your house is a prime target for them to relocate to. Even if your kitchen is spotless and there are no drops of moisture in any bathroom, you can still find ants in your home. How is this possible? Ants are ingenious at finding entry points into your home, which means that you need to call the professionals for help with deterring them from joining you in your humble abode.

5. Reproduction

As gross as this may seem, your home is an ideal place for ants that are searching for a location to reproduce and propagate. As a colony continues to grow, it will naturally begin to spread to new locations in search of more space. If you’ve noticed flying ants around your home, then be sure to contact Palm Coast Pest Control, as these are the first signs that you may have an ant colony developing in or near your home.

Flying ants, also known as alates, are reproductive ants. They have been part of an ant colony up to this point, and when the colony became more populous, the alates flew away to mate and begin a new colony in a different location. Once they have mated, the males will die, and the female queens will begin to nest and propagate a brand-new colony.

What You Can Do

There are a number of steps that you can take to make your home less attractive to ants, including eliminating sources of food, water, and shelter. If you have done all of these things and are still experiencing an ant problem, then it’s probably time to schedule an appointment with a professional pest control company. Even if you were to get pesticide from your local home improvement store, it will only kill the ants you see, leaving the rest of the colony for you to deal with.

Additionally, most pesticides are harmful to pets and children, so be very careful to read the labels before you purchase something to use in and around your home. At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we understand that ants can be very annoying when they are in your home. We are proud to offer same-day inspections and free estimates so that you can reclaim your home from these pests as quickly as possible. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and get on the way to being ant-free in your home.

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