Source of the Problem: What Are Ants Attracted To?

Why do you keep getting ants in your house? How are they getting in? What are ants attracted to?

If you find yourself asking these questions, you’re probably in need of extermination solutions. However, while it’s important to know how to get rid of pests, it’s just as important to know how to prevent them.

You need to figure out why ants are coming into your home in the first place and how they’re getting in. We’re going to help. Here is our guide on what attracts ants and how to keep them out.

What Are Ants Attracted To?

Ants are one of the most common types of household bugs. They’re tiny and can get into the smallest cracks and openings in your home.

But why are they coming in? Are you inadvertently sending out an invitation?

Food

Like any living organism, ants need food to survive and your home is full of it. Ants not only have an amazing sense of smell, but colonies also send out scouts to search for food and food sources.

Therefore, if you’re leaving any food out or accessible, scouts are going to find it and then go tell their friends. It’s especially important to clean up sugary foods like honey, spilled juice, etc. However, ants have also been known to invade garages where pet food is left open.

We recommend sealing all food inside your house or garage in air-tight containers. Even boxes of cereal or bags of chips partially left open can attract ants. 

Water

Food is obvious, as we’ve all seen ants swarm abandoned ice cream cones or popsicles dropped outside. But what are ants attracted to besides food?

Believe it or not, ants are also attracted to water. However, we’re not talking about big puddles or flowing streams of water here. You have to think about water sources from their perspective. 

For example, ants are drawn to water-saturated wood from which they can safely harvest water. They are also drawn to excess moisture in your kitchen, bathroom, or basement.

Therefore, if you have any leaky pipes or water leaks from the roof or basement, it’s imperative to get the problem remediated. This is especially important in dry climates where ants are more likely to invade a home for water alone.

Easy Entry Points

Learning how to prevent ants means learning how to physically bar them from your home. It’s not just about finding answers to “what are ants attracted to?”

The easier it is for ants to get into your home, the bigger the problem will be. Aside from food and water, ants require adequate shelter.

They don’t regulate their own body heat, they rely on their environment. Unfortunately, your home is the perfect place to hunker down, find food and water, and reproduce. 

Aside from reducing available food and water, we also recommend sealing up your home. Fix the weather stripping on your doors and windows to seal up any cracks or gaps. Use silicone to seel any other cracks, holes, or spaces through which ants can enter your home.

Finally, make sure the exterior of your home is free from contact with vegetation. Weeds, trees, and shrubbery touching your home are like ant highways leading the way to your house.

Need Help Getting Rid of Pests?

What are ants attracted to? Unfortunately, they’re attracted to all the good things in your house – stable temperatures, food, and water. While you can do a lot to keep them out, it might come down to hiring a professional exterminator.

If you’ve got ants and can’t seem to get rid of them, we can help. Contact us today for a free 57-point inspection.