How Ants Get Into Mooresville Homes In The First Place
March 31, 2021
There are subtle pests and not so subtle pests. A cockroach is a good example of a subtle pest with the way it stays out of sight and only comes out to scavenge for food at night after lights are off and homeowners are asleep. On the other side of the spectrum, there are ants; these intrusive pests won’t care if you see them or not. All that matters to them is that they find food and bring it back to their colony. If you are curious to find out how ants get into homes here in Mooresville and are looking for a good way to keep these pests out, here are a few things you should know.
Ants Common Around Mooresville
Before we get into how ants invade, let’s talk a bit about what ant species are present around our area. Here are a few you should know about:
Argentine Ants: An argentine ant is 1/16 to ¼” in length and shiny dark brown to black. This common household pest will most commonly invade homes when the weather outside becomes too hot, dry, or wet and will occasionally do so by crossing tree branches and electrical wires.
Odorous House Ants: An odorous house ant is ⅛” long, dark brown to black, and has an unevenly shaped thorax. As its name implies, this pest emits a foul odor much like that of rotten coconut. Find these pests indoors during times of heavy rains or when these pests decide your home is a good place to find food.
Pavement Ants: A pavement ant is ⅛” long, dark brown to black, and has a thorax with grooved parallel lines running across it. As their name indicates, these pests most commonly live around and beneath the pavement. When temperatures outside become unfavorable or food sources are discovered inside, this pest won’t hesitate to invade homes.
Carpenter Ants: A carpenter ant is ⅛ to ½” long, black, red, or red and black, and has large mandibles. These destructive pests have a habit of building their nests into the wood of homes. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is or what the conditions are outside, these pests will always invade a home if they see an opportunity to build a nest.
Which Attractants Attract Ants?
Ants invade homes for many reasons, but most often they will wander inside in search of food. If a scout ant finds something to scavenge, they will let their friends know and soon make a line to gather what they can.
Ants are also attracted to homes by the shelter they provide. If it is storming outside and ants are looking for a place to hide, your home might provide them with the safety they are looking for.
How Do Ants Get Inside?
There are many entry points ants use to get into homes. Some of the most common include:
- Cracks and gaps in a home’s exterior foundation
- Damage to weatherstripping
- Torn window/door screens
- Improperly installed door sweeps
- Spacing around window/door frames
One benefit ants have when looking to invade homes is their small size. This is one reason these pests are so difficult to prevent, and for that reason, here is what we recommend to keep these annoying home invaders out.
Give The Professionals A Call
At Lake Norman Pest Control, we get ants. If you are a resident here in Mooresville, consider the benefits of our comprehensive pest control plans today. Our team only uses the most advanced methods and products when handling ants around homes and would be happy to put their experience to work for you.
Contact us today to learn more about our general pest control and schedule your home for a pest inspection.
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