If you’ve recently noticed an influx of ants in your home, you’re probably wondering how & why they’re there. There could be many reasons why ants are targeting your home, but these six legged insects typically enter houses in search of three things: food, water, and shelter. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these three potential causes of infestations and offer you some tips on how you can solve your ant problem! If you’re a home or business owner in the Greater New Orleans area that is currently experiencing an ant problem, contact our team at Pied Piper Pest Control for a free estimate on our affordable ant extermination services!
Food
The primary reason that ants will enter a home or business is that they are looking for food. Many ant species are attracted to sweet, sugary, or starchy foods that can be found in pantries, cupboards, refrigerators, etc. If any of these kinds of foods are left out around your home or are stored in non-airtight containers, there’s a good chance that ants are being attracted to your home. In order to prevent ants that are entering your home in search of food, there are a few things you can do:
- Store all food in air tight containers.
- Sweep & vacuum your floors regularly.
- Wipe down countertops & tables where food is eaten or prepared using an all purpose cleaner.
- Store pet food in airtight bins and put away your pet’s food bowl after each use.
Water
The next reason that ants may be targeting your home is the presence of water. Like all living things, ants are constantly on the search for water and they are attracted to any standing water that might be found in your house. To prevent ant infestations, you should be sure to repair leaky pipes & faucets that may be dripping and creating standing water puddles. In addition to the areas around your pipes & faucets, you should eliminate any standing water in gutters, flowerpots, bird baths, and any other containers that may be storing water in close proximity to your home.
Shelter
The final reason that ants may be entering your home is that they are in search of shelter to escape the harsh conditions outdoors. Because ants are such tiny insects, they can gain entry into your home through miniscule cracks and crevices that you don’t even notice. The older your home is, the more likely that these cracks and crevices are present. Therefore, older houses are at greater risk for ant infestations. The best way to solve this problem is to meticulously seal off any potential points of entry that ants may be using to get into your home, but this is easier said than done. Instead, you can contact a pest control professional in your area who will be able to spot your home’s vulnerabilities & help prevent insect infestations!
Contact Pied Piper Pest Control in New Orleans!
Pied Piper Pest Control provides pest control services for ants and a wide range of other insects throughout the Greater New Orleans area! If you have any additional questions about ant control or believe that you may have an infestation in or around your New Orleans area home or building, contact our team at Pied Piper Pest Control right away! We have years of experience dealing with these pests and will ensure that once they’re gone, they won’t come back! Give us a call today at (504) 366-1333 or fill out the contact form on our website, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!