When The Ants Go Marching: Easy Tips For Keeping An Ant Problem Under Control

Right at this moment somewhere in the United States, ants are marching from a homeowner’s backyard to the front door, looking for a hospitable place to live. When food and water are of limited supply or when the weather gets rough, ants will come looking for new places to call home. So, how do you keep them out?

Ants are social creatures that live together in communities known as colonies. You’ll often find them gathered near the foundation of a home, under concrete slabs or in other protected areas. The only way to really eliminate the problem is to kill the entire colony. Below are some additional tips from Combat®.

Keeping the Ants Out

-- Many ants enter the home via tiny gaps between the wall and utility lines, around windows, and other little holes and cracks around the home. A little caulk around these areas will make a big difference.

-- Keep vegetation about one foot away from the home, and avoid placing mulch close to the structure. Ants climb bushes and trees and will make their way from the outside into your home. Mulch is an attractive nesting spot for ants.

-- Fix water leaks, and insulate cold pipes and appliances on which condensation develops. The most important thing in an ant’s life is water and they will readily enter your home to get it.

-- Don’t over water houseplants. If the tray at the bottom of the plant fills up, empty it out.

-- Leave pet food out only at feeding time, and store the food in airtight containers.

Prevention steps are often very effective, but in the event that ants are still entering the home, there are steps that can be taken to eliminate the problem. Sprays are temporarily effective, but getting to the root of the problem requires a long-term solution.

For best results, place Combat® baits or gels in areas where you see or have seen ants. The ants will take the bait and carry it back to the colony and pass it on to other ants, thereby killing the brood, the queen, and the entire colony. There will be noticeably fewer ants in days. All Combat products are guaranteed to work or your money back.

Cool Facts
• Without a queen ant, the colony cannot survive.
• The queen orders directives by emitting odors that tell the ants what to do.
• Ants rely on scent for almost all of their communications.
• An ant can lift 20 times its own body weight, and ants work in teams to lift heavy items.
• The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days; however, a queen will live for several years.
• An ant has two stomachs—one for itself and one to store food to take back to the colony
• There are more than 12,000 species of ants.
• An ant colony contains only female ants.
• The males die shortly after reproduction.
• During the winter, ants can slow their metabolism to survive without eating for months.
• Keep children and pets away from fire ant nests. Fire ants are aggressive can cause serious injury.
• Carpenter ant colonies usually have multiple nests. The main nest is usually located outdoors, even though they’re known for burrowing in structures. They don’t feed on wood, but excavate it to make a nesting site.
• Carpenter ants are nocturnal; they only feed at night.