There are plenty of winter stereotypes. Long walks in crisp, cold sunshine. Christmas sweaters for those that celebrate the holiday, and lots of time spent indoors by a cozy fire. But ants crawling along your floor? Taking over your kitchen counters and pantry? That doesn’t sound like winter at all.
Despite it being a common belief, ants don’t hibernate during winter. While their activities may slow down and they manage their energy levels more carefully, ant control is still a common problem even during winter. There’s nothing worse than finding ants crawling around your kitchen floor. In this blog, we’re going to explain why they’re there in the first place, and what you can do to prevent them from turning up.
Why Are Ants in Your Kitchen in Winter?
There are believed to be at least 12,000 different species of ants around the world. And that’s only the ones that have been discovered.
You won’t be dealing with 12,000 different species of ant this winter – but there are still more than 100 species of ant in Canada. Their yearly habits vary and their winter activities can change, but overall, ants will still be looking to get inside your home for food, warmth, and shelter. Some people believe that the cold weather makes ants disappear. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ants – like many other insects – prefer to stay warm during winter. If they really can’t find anywhere warm enough, ants will instead burrow deep into the ground, hoping to insulate themselves from ice and snow. However, it’s more common for ants to work their way into your basement, garage, and even your flooring. There, they’ll have the warmth they need, and easy access to your food source.
Ants will take any opportunity they can to feed. They won’t risk exposing themselves to severe temperatures, ice or snow since it could prove fatal. But if you spot ants inside your kitchen this winter, then they probably already have an active nest somewhere inside your home. They’ll be tucked up and cozy in their nest, enjoying a five-star buffet in your kitchen, and scavenging for leaks and drops of water as well.
How Do You Keep Them Out?
Before you find yourself in that situation, you need to do everything you can to keep ants away this winter. There are a few simple ways that you can do that.
First of all, seal your home properly and make access for ants as difficult as possible. If you’re aware of any holes, cracks, and crevices on the foundation of your home, then address them immediately. Be sure to check your window panes, and double-check that there is no leftover space beneath your doors by installing door sweeps.
More so than food, ants need water to survive. Make sure that there are no leaks inside and outside of your home. Even the smallest puddles of moisture can help ants to survive. When they struggle to find water anywhere, they’ll abandon their nest and look for it elsewhere.
Finally, keep your kitchen clean! Tidy the surfaces once you’re finished cooking and be sure to vacuum any spillages or food crumbs. Ant control is difficult enough – if you leave food (and even pet food) lying around, it’s an open invitation.
Ant Control With Truly Nolen
Here at Truly Nolen, we’re fully prepared to deal with ants year-round. So much so that we’ve developed our Four Season’s Approach.
This proactive pest control program allows for the change in pest behavior between each season. Since ants change their hiding places, feeding habits, and breeding habits between seasons, we need to make sure our techniques do too. Call our team to find out how we can help remove ants from your home – even in winter.