Discovering ants sneaking around your space can be frustrating, particularly when the cause is unclear. Whether it’s due to kitchen spills or growing indoor colonies, there are multiple reasons why you may have acquired some unwelcome roommates.
If you’re curious about why you have ants in the house, this guide is for you. We’ll tell you about the most common types of ants indoors, as well as tips to remove them.
Most Common Types of Ants in Your House
Understanding the different species that may be making themselves at home in your space is key to getting rid of them for good. Let’s look at some of the usual suspects you might encounter, from tiny thieves to destructive woodworkers:
- Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile): These are the most common ants across Oregon and Washington. They have a sweet tooth, drawn to sugary treats and moist environments like kitchens and bathrooms. Don’t try to step on one of these ants in the house— as their name suggests, they’ll release a pungent odor whenever crushed.
- Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp):These big ants aren’t just interested in your snacks; they’re after your wood, too! Unlike termites, carpenter ants won’t eat wood. Instead, they carve out cozy nests in damp or rotting wood.
- Pavement Ants (Tetramorium caespitum):These ants set up camp under sidewalks and building foundations, hence their name. They’re not picky eaters, happily munching on everything from sugar to protein. APharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis): These small intruders thrive in warm, humid environments. They’re more than a common annoyance; these pests can carry and transmit disease as they roam and forage.
- Thief Ants (Solenopsis molesta) Small and stealthy, these yellowish-brown ants love raiding your pantry for greasy or oily foods.
Why Are There Ants in The House?
Curious about the ants roaming your home? Here’s why you may see these little critters indoors.
1. You Have Cracks In Your Walls
Ants can effortlessly infiltrate your home through small cracks and gaps, no matter the source. Here are a few areas ants may utilize to sneak inside:
- Foundation and wall cracks
- Gaps between doors and surrounding walls
- Transitions between walls and windows
- Small holes near pipes, vents, or electrical lines
- Water lines accessed by exterior hose spigots
Seal these gaps and cracks to prevent ants from spreading throughout your home.
2. They Crawl Through Open Windows
Spring and summer weather may tempt us to throw open our windows for a breath of fresh air.
However, the windows may welcome more than just the breeze. Even with the window closed, ants can still enter through tiny gaps in the caulking or the weep vent, that little hole on the outer window frame that allows moisture to escape the window pane.
Wooden window frames, in particular, are susceptible to moisture, making them prone to rot—a perfect invitation for carpenter ants searching for a new home.
To prevent ants from exploiting these entry points, inspect the screens, window panes, and wood annually to ensure everything is in working order.
3. They’re Looking for Food
Ants have a keen eye– and nose– for finding food. And they’re not picky. Once a foraging ant finds a hearty food source inside your home, it’s not long before you have a trail of wandering ants in your house.
Pet food, garbage cans, and improperly sealed food containers are all irresistible temptations for these tiny scavengers. Sweet treats like sugar, honey, and syrup also hold a particular allure for many ant species, meaning your fruit and pantry sugar aren’t safe from their clutches.
4. They’re Seeking Shelter
You may have ants in your house if the weather outside is poor. These pests may seek shelter indoors if they lack favorable conditions outdoors. When the weather turns extreme, like during heavy rain or scorching heat waves, ants could seek shelter in our homes to escape the harsh outdoor conditions.
5. Scent Trails Bring Them Indoors
Once ants find a promising food source, they will leave behind a trail of pheromones as they return to the colony. These pheromones act as a chemical breadcrumb trail, guiding other ants from the nest to the food source.
As more ants travel along the scent trail, they deposit additional pheromones, further strengthening the trail and making it more enticing for others to follow. This reinforcement continues until the food source is depleted or the trail is disrupted.
Ants are adaptable creatures and can quickly adjust their behavior in response to environmental changes. If a scent trail is disrupted or the food source is removed, ants will actively search for alternative routes or new food sources to replenish their colony’s supplies, meaning you’ll often need professional help to eliminate the ants in your house.
6. They’re Establishing New Colonies or Satellite Nests
While most ants prefer to stick to their outdoor colonies, some ant species, like carpenter ants, feel right at home within your space.
Carpenter ants are attracted to damp or decaying wood. They often seek out areas where wood has been softened by moisture, such as window frames, door frames, or roof eaves, to establish new colonies.
Unlike termites, which consume wood for nutrition, carpenter ants excavate galleries to create
nesting space, discarding the wood debris outside the nest. As the colony grows, the ants expand their nesting area and forage for food to support the colony’s needs.
If left unchecked, carpenter ants can cause significant structural damage to homes over time.
Their nesting habits gradually weaken wooden structures, risking structural integrity and often necessitating expensive repairs.
Similarly, odorous house ants, like many ant species, have multiple queens per colony. When these colonies expand, they send queens out to establish new nesting areas. Disturbing these ants with over-the-counter pesticides, household cleaners, or homemade oil concoctions can cause this species to “bud” or expand their colonies to safer areas.
7. They’re Following Other Pests
You can also have ants in your house because of two main attractions: the presence of aphids on indoor plants and the sweet nectar these plants produce.
Aphids secrete honeydew as they feed on plant sap, which ants find irresistible. They often protect aphids from predators and help them move to new plants to ensure a steady supply of honeydew.
Ants are also drawn to the sweet nectar of indoor plants, foraging on flowers and leaving scent trails to guide other ants to these food sources. If you accidentally bring in plants infested with ants, they can return to the colony and bring back more pests to forage.
Natura is Your Go-To For Ant Pest Control!
Dealing with ants in your house demands prompt action to prevent the problem from worsening. While DIY methods may offer temporary relief, calling a professional pest control company is the most reliable solution.
At Natura, our services extend beyond just ants— we safely and efficiently eradicate all unwanted pests from your property. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
Did You Know?
There are more than 12,000 ant species worldwide, dozens of which can be found in Washington State.
FAQ
Are ants dangerous to my home?
Most ants are just a nuisance, but some, like carpenter ants, can cause structural damage by tunneling through wood. If you spot large, black ants with a habit of hanging around wood, it might be time to call in a professional.
How do I permanently get rid of ants?
The key is tackling the root cause. Remove food or water sources, seal up entry points, and address any outdoor factors like yard debris. Store-bought traps or bait can work for minor infestations, but larger problems often require professional pest control.
Do I need to worry about ants during winter?
Yes, unfortunately! While they’re less active outdoors during colder months, ants already inside your home can remain active year-round if they’ve set up camp.
