Aside from dealing with the low temperatures, one of the less known downsides of residing in an area with cold winters is ant infestations. Most of the time, as the cold seasons near, ants seem to disappear. There are, however, instances where they seem to increase significantly, especially in the basement, kitchen, and bathroom. This is mostly because they use your home to protect themselves from extreme temperatures.
Finding an ant nest in your home can be hectic, especially when you don’t know what to do next. Don’t worry, though, because we have compiled a complete guide on how to get rid of ants in the winter, including what attracts them to your home. Check out the full details below!
As the temperatures become cold during winter, ants start looking for warm places to protect themselves. Their coping mechanism is different depending on the species, but some hide under decomposing leaves, others stay under rocks, while the most common method is building tunnel mounds. There are, however, ants that use your home as their shelter against the cold. They’re mostly attracted to your house by food which is why you’ll find most colonies in the kitchen. According to the BBC Trusted Source Are all the ants as heavy as all the humans? “If we were to weigh all the ants in the world, they would weigh as much as all of the people,” said wildlife presenter Chris Packham recently in BBC Four’s The Wonder Of Animals: Ants. But is this statement true? www.bbc.com , ants only weigh 1 or 2 milligrams. While this doesn’t seem like a significant size for ants to pose a problem, when they’re in colonies, they can be a nuisance.
There are other instances where ants are mainly attracted to your home by the warmth. According to the Smithsonian Mag Trusted Source Ant Colonies Retain Memories That Outlast the Lifespans of Individuals | Science | Smithsonian Magazine An ant colony can thrive for decades, changing its behavior based on past events even as individual ants die off every year or so www.smithsonianmag.com , ant colonies can live up to 30 years, which is a long lifespan. This means that they can survive the winter. However, if they are exposed to extremely low temperatures, they can die, which is why they look for effective ways of staying warm, including hibernation and invading houses.
You should note that it’s often difficult to find ant nests during the winter because their movement is often limited. Their nests’ entrances sometimes get covered, which makes them all the more challenging to find.
However, if a whole colony nests in your home, it’s easier to spot them as they stay active. You should contact professional exterminators as soon as possible because if you can spot them, then the infestation is serious.
There are 3 main effective ways of getting rid of the ants in winter:
There are 3 main places you’re likely to face ants in your home during winter: the bathroom, basement, and the kitchen. You may also face ants on the ceiling and on carpets. Here’s a quick overview of what attracts them to these rooms and how you can get rid of them.
There are 2 reasons why you may experience an ant infestation in your bathroom during winter; food source and water. The bathroom is one of the warm areas of a home which is why they tend to build a nest close to it.
The best way to deal with an ant infestation in your bathroom is to get rid of all the moisture. If you have any leaking faucets or water drainage challenges, make sure they are fixed by a professional. You should also dry the sink, floor, wall, and other surfaces after you have a bath and maintain optimal ventilation without letting the cold in.
Most of the time, basement ant infestations are usually an indication that a colony has built a nest. The ants often get into the basement through the holes and cracks and are attracted by the leakages, damp wood, edibles, pet food, or pantry stables that you may have.
The food sources for ants are usually limited during the winter, which is why the kitchen is an attractive option for them. The best way to deal with a kitchen ant infestation is to keep it clean, store food items as soon as possible and seal the access points. You could also use ant bait if there’s a large colony.
Based on most expert reviews, the Raid Max Double Control Ant Baits is the best option. It’s a child-safe and pet-safe ant killer that reduces the ant population within days and is effective for around 3 months. This ant bait can also be used in multiple rooms, including recreational rooms, dining rooms, pantries, bathrooms, kitchen, basements, and attics.
If you’re looking for the best ways on how to get rid of ants in the winter, the above tips are a great place to start. During the cold seasons, ant behavior changes, and they either hibernate or look for a warm place to get through the winter. Your home is one of the most attractive options, especially the kitchen, bathroom, and basement. If you’re dealing with an ant or dust mite infestation, make sure you maintain cleanliness, use insecticide or ant bait and seal all entry points. You should also consider contacting professional ant exterminators for long-lasting effects.
