Do I Have To Worry About Ants During The Winter In Evansville?

Here in Evansville, there are a number of pests that are considered to be overwintering pests as they will move inside of houses to escape the harsh winter weather. However, ants are not generally considered to be one of these. Many people feel they do not need to worry about ant infestations as the wintertime approaches. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite the fact that ant activity does decrease during wintertime, that doesn’t mean that they have disappeared. Unfortunately, when we stop worrying about pests, that’s when we leave ourselves most exposed. They could already be living in your home, possibly damaging your property.

The reason ant activity decreases during winter months is due to a biological process in the ants themselves. You see, when the weather gets colder, the ants’ body temperatures decrease which makes them unable to move in an efficient manner. They will seek out warm areas, such as the soil, under the bark of trees, or under rocks on the ground.

Additionally, they will close off the entrances to their nests. Given this dramatic decrease in activity, if you are seeing ants around your home, it is most likely due to the fact that they have already established a colony somewhere inside. Unfortunately, this means you could be exposed to various threats. Ants can spread harmful pathogens; some produce painful bites and stings. Carpenter ants can even cause costly property damage as they build their nests inside of wood. Whatever the reason may be, there is plenty of cause for concern if you have ants living in your home.

Signs Of An Ant Problem In Your Home

There are several signs that could indicate an ant infestation in your home, the most prominent being the appearance of ants around your home. Ants will leave their colonies to forage for food, so if the ants have entered your home, there’s a good chance you will see them moving about. They can typically be found around the kitchen, especially in pantries and food containers. You may even inadvertently discover a colony if you move a major appliance such as the fridge. Additionally there might be other indications also depending on the ant species. For instance, if you have a carpenter ant infestation, there may hear rustling noises coming from within your walls. You might also notice small holes that have been chewed into the wood around your home, perhaps with sawdust-like frass beneath them.

Ant Prevention Tips

No matter the season, you should always be practicing ant prevention around your home. This requires cutting down on potential food sources and sealing off entry points.

To achieve these, you should:

• Store all food in airtight containers or the fridge
• Store trash in containers with tight-fitting lids
• Take out the trash before it overflows 
• Clean up spills and crumbs from floors and countertops 
• Fix leaky pipes or faucets around your home
• Seal any cracks in the foundation of your home
• Install door sweeps under exterior doors
• Install weather stripping around windows and exterior doors

Effective Ant Control Solutions For Your Home

If you are dealing with an ant infestation in your home this winter, call the professionals here at Action Pest Control right away so that we institute a treatment and plan to get your home back to ant-free as soon as possible. As ants are a year-round pest, you should consider our ongoing pest control treatment plans to keep your home safe from a variety of pests all year long. When the winter weather arrives, you don’t want to be trapped in your home with an ant infestation. So, give Action Pest Control a call today and get started on ant control services in Evansville.