As you are aware we have been having a very wet June. River levels are high and flooding is an issue. You may have also noticed that you are starting to see a few ants in your home. Maybe more than a few – maybe a lot! As the ground becomes more and more saturated the ants nests and tunnels are flooded. This leads them to search for a dry place to call home. Unfortunately, that place may actually be your home. Also, this rain and water may have you half wishing for a drought. Too bad that wouldn’t fix the ant problem. Dry weather is just as bad for ants moving in. During a drought they enter your home in search of water. I guess we just can’t win.
Here are some tips to keep your home free of ants during this deluge.
KEEP IT CLEAN – Ants might be coming in to find a dry place but they will also need food. Take away their food source! Depending on the type of ant they may like sweet, sugary things or they may prefer meats, fat, and oils. Safest bet? Keep food in the refrigerator or if in the cabinet make sure it is in well sealed containers. Wipe off the counters and keep the floor swept and mopped.
REMOVE THE MAP – You might see ants traveling in a line. This is because ants leave a chemical trail along their path. This is so they can find their way back to the food. It also acts as a map for other ants to follow. To help keep ants out, disable their GPS, so to speak. Be sure to clean up those trails. Warm water and an everyday detergent like Pine-Sol or Mr. Clean should do the trick.
CLOSE THE GAP – Ants can find their way into your home through small gaps and openings. The best bet to keep them out is to seal up these areas. Use caulk on windows, doors and noticeable cracks. They can get in through the tiniest of spots, so keep that in mind when caulking.
RAISE THE BARRIER – Another great way to keep ants out is to have an exterior perimeter treatment done on your home. This will create a barrier against ants and other ground crawling insects, helping to keep them out no matter what the weather.
Working as a team, these ants are carrying whole pieces of Apple Jacks cereal up a wall!
