Are you STILL having problems with ants in your home even though its December? Ants should be hibernating right? I bet you thought Ants were only a problem during warmer temperatures, right? WRONG! Ants are pesky insects that love to gather food. Ants naturally gather their food and water from outside sources such as plants, tree sap, other insects and even other ant colonies. Ants however do not hibernate so when the weather gets cold or it is winter time this can cause problems because they will need to find new food sources. And your home has PLENTY of food for Ants to snack on. Ants don’t require much of a space to enter your home. Ants can enter a structure through any opening larger than 1/8 inch. Ants can develop huge populations and forage over 100 feet from their nest.
Houston and the surrounding area is a great place for ants to thrive. Especially your Spring, TX home! The climate is warm and humid, which ants need to survive. There are also plenty of small cracks in the ground that ants can fit into, which leads them to food and shelter. Ants also leave a scent trail that leads other ants to food, which makes it easy for them to find food in a large city like Houston. All of these factors make Houston the perfect place for ants.
Ants are attracted to food that has already been opened but if there is no food outside of your home, then chances are they will enter your home looking for it. Ants do not hibernate in the Winter time. Sunlight feeds into homes and buildings, giving Ants the necessary vitamins from the sunlight, while staying warm inside your home. This helps them survive. Ants also survive in the Winter time because of the food and water source inside your home or building. Ants do not hibernate, however they don’t eat much. So it only takes one tiny crumb to keep them going. Ants can be very persistent when looking for food, if they need to go into other parts of your home then that is what they will do. Ants in the Winter time are mainly looking for food, water, and shelter.
In the Houston area we typically see three different types of ants: the sugar ant, carpenter ant, and fire ant.
Sugar Ants:
The sugar ant is a small black or brown colored ant that feeds on sweets and syrups. Making your pantry and kitchen a HUGE hotspot for Sugar Ants. Sugar ants can enter your home through cracks, crevices or gaps around doors, windows and vents. Once inside, sugar ants will look for food and water. Sugar ants are most active at night and can be identified by their long antennae.
Carpenter Ants:
The carpenter ant is a large black or brown colored ant that feeds on protein and other insects. Carpenter ants get their name because of the damage they cause to wood by hollowing out galleries for their nests. Carpenter ants also cause problems to Houston homeowners because they can create extensive damage over time. Carpenter ants are most active from the late afternoon.
Fire Ants:
The fire ant is a small red colored ant that is aggressive and can sting. Fire ants nest in the soil and when they sense danger they will swarm. Like the Sugar Ant, Fire ants can enter your home through cracks, crevices or gaps around doors, windows and vents. Houston is home to many fire ants. If you are bitten or stung by a fire ant, you may experience swelling, redness and pain.
Ants will typically enter your home in the Spring time because that is when they are looking for food. Ants in the Winter time are mainly looking for food and water, not shelter. Ants need a way to survive during the winter so they will either look for water inside your home or they will stay outside and try to eat what ever they can. Ants are not trying to mess with you, they just want food.
How Cold Does It Need To Get For Ants To Die?
Ants do not need to be exposed to extreme temperatures to die. Ants can die from as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Ants will typically die if the temperature is below freezing or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Can I Make Sure My Home Stays Free From Ants This Winter?
– Make sure that you seal any cracks or crevices around doors, windows, and vents.
– Clean up any food crumbs that are around the house.
– Ants will try to find food, water and shelter so make sure you eliminate all of these things.
How Good Do Over The Counter Products Work Against Ants In The Winter?
Over the counter products are not good for ants because they are over priced and if your problem is larger than what can be handled by an OTC product then you will probably have to call an exterminator and that can get very costly and time consuming if you call the wrong company. Ants are a very common problem and over the counter products typically don’t work. If you have a small problem then maybe an OTC product will work, but if you have a larger problem then you don’t want to waste your time and money with over the counter products.
What Do I Do If I Live In The Houston Area And I Have Ants?
If you live anywhere in Harris County, Montgomery County, Galveston County, or Waller County and you are having problems with Ants, we at CPL Pest Control would love to help! From Houston to Spring and Conroe to the Woodlands, we are ready to make your ants a problem of the past! Give us a call for your FREE Consultation and Quote! 281-683-6737, as always, ask for Chris!
Thank you for reading!
