What Attracts Ants?
Ants are one of the most common types of pests that causes indoor and outdoor infestations. Especially in the summer, with all the picnics and dinners in the backyard. They can spread around quickly and build a nest in a matter of days. Did you know that certain things that attract ants?
Ants will come to your property if they decide that it's the perfect area for their nest. The following list contains the most common things that may attract ants to your home without you knowing it. Check them out and make sure to handle them to prevent an ant infestation.
Water source
One of the main reasons ants are attracted to your property is if they find access to clean water. Ants need access to water to survive. They’ll look for a permanent source, as they not only drink to satisfy their thirst, they’ll also bring water back in the colony. When ants find a good source of water, they’ll leave a trail of scent for the other ants to find it.
Bathrooms and kitchens are common areas for ants to nest because of this reason. Some ants may build nests under the bathroom sink and tiles as these areas are well moisturized. You should clean your bathroom regularly to remove any excess water to keep the ants away.
The kitchen sink is also a source of fresh water. If you notice ants in your kitchen, inspect under your sink, around water fixtures, and pipes to try to locate the nest.
Check out: Ant Species of Australia
Food source
Just like the diet of any other animal, the ant diet includes proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They’ll look for a constant source of all three before building a nest.
Sugar contains a high amount of carbohydrates, that’s why many ants are drawn to it. Sugar ants have a weakness to the sweetener. They are commonly found in Australia and can be found nesting in wood, branches or trees near your home.
If you tend to leave open packages of food on the shelves and countertops, or if you often spill food around your household, you may attract ants without knowing it. To prevent that, clean food spills as soon as they happen. Make sure to use soap, vinegar or other cleaning detergents to remove the food smell along with the stain. Store food in sealed containers or use clips for open packages.
Another place where ants will look for food is in the garbage can. Don’t leave food in the can longer than a day or two. Try to take out the garbage once a day or when the can is filled. Don’t leave it standing for days. After a couple of days, the food residue will start emitting strong odour that will attract the ants.
Safe nesting space
After making sure to eliminate water and food sources, you need to stop ants from invading your property. They don’t require much space to sneak inside, but they also won’t force themselves to go in.
So if you have an ant infestation inside your property, that means that you have easily accessed points in walls or around windows.
Fill cracks and holes in the exterior and interior walls. Fill holes around windows and doors and seal around frames. If you have rotten frames around windows, you need to repair them as they'll enable the ants to go in. Doing this won’t stop every single ant from entering your property, but you’ll avoid an infestation.
Plants and flowers
Most of the ant species don’t eat plants and flowers. Insects, including ants, are naturally attracted to houseplants due to their sweet scent. Flower and plant pots are usually moisturized and can be appealing to the ants. The other insects drawn to the flowers often leave a specific scent and residue that can draw the curious little workers to your home.
Ants are one of the common pests in Australia, that can cause damage and infiltrate your home. They usually dwell in colonies. That makes them hard to handle. An ant infestation can cause constructional damages and contaminate your food.
If you think your home might be infiltrated with ants, contact Fantastic Pest Control to locate the nest and get rid of the problem.