If you associate ants with summer, you’re not alone; the pests are usually associated with ruined picnics, pillaged pantries, and ant swarms around your trash cans. The truth is, however, that you can find ants in your house in the winter. While you may encounter them on your deck or in the garden during the warmer months, they often head indoors as temperatures drop.
Learn more about the signs of a wintertime ant infestation below, or contact McCall Service about a Florida ant inspection today.
Do ants hibernate?
Ants are at their busiest when temperatures are in the 70 – 90℉ range. As things cool down in the fall and winter, these bugs begin building colonies beneath rocks or piles of leaves and debris to stay warm. Another chill-evading tactic is to build mounds complete with tunnels. However, if an ant colony’s scouts discover your home’s warm shelter and food sources, it won’t be long before you find ants in the attic or other parts of your home.
Why do ants come into the house?
Ants’ body temperature is affected by weather conditions in their immediate environment. If they can’t count on their outdoor nests for shelter, or if a brief warm spell during the winter tricks them into coming out of hiding, they may bring the swarm indoors in search of shelter, warmth, food, and water.
Where do ants go in the winter?
Once they head inside, these insects look for warm places to nest. That’s why you may find ants in the attic or one of these other cozy nooks and crannies:
- Inside walls
- Beneath floors
- Inside cabinets
- In window or door frames
- Nestled in your appliances
Of course, the kitchen is a hotspot, especially if family members don’t always clean up after themselves. Outside, you may find the pests around your home’s foundation or nesting under a pile of leaves or debris.
How to Prevent Ant Infestations
While your warm, comfortable house will always be attractive to ants and other pests, there’s a lot you can do to prevent them from making themselves at home in your home. These tips will only keep ants out if the entire household follows them, though, so make your best effort to get everyone on board.
- Be diligent about cleaning up crumbs and spills.
- Put garbage in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid.
- Keep all food in airtight containers or the refrigerator.
- Immediately repair all leaky faucets, spigots, and pipes.
- Seal all gaps, cracks, and other openings in your home’s exterior.
- Store pet food in a well-sealed container; if you feed pets outside, bring their bowls in immediately.
Incorporating these new habits will help prevent ants in the attic and elsewhere. If you do spot even a single ant indoors, time is of the essence. Contact McCall Service right away to get the problem under control.
Choose Florida Ant Control Solutions from McCall Service
From providing the answer to the question, “Do ants hibernate?” to helping you make your home less ant-friendly, we hope these tips help prevent ants in your house in the winter.
If you live in Tallahassee, Jacksonville, or another Florida community and find yourself with an ant issue, contact McCall Service for a free quote today. We’re a family-operated company that’s helped residents and businesses stay pest-free since 1928, and we can help you, too.
