Ants are highly organised social insects that live in colonies and can quickly take advantage of food, water and shelter around our homes.
A clean home isn't necessarily an ant-free home. Even small crumbs, spills, pet food or moisture can attract foraging ants. Once a scout finds a suitable resource, it can recruit other members of the colony, which is why a single ant can seemingly turn into a trail across your kitchen.
Understanding what attracts ants and how they enter your home is the first step towards controlling the problem.
How Do Ants Find Food?
Ants have highly developed sensory systems that help them locate food, water and suitable shelter.
When a scout ant discovers a food source, it can lay down a chemical pheromone trail. Other ants follow this trail towards the resource and can reinforce it as they travel.
That's why a small spill or a few crumbs can sometimes result in a surprisingly organised trail of ants.
Why Do Ants Come Indoors?
Ants generally enter homes in search of three basic resources:
- Food
- Water
- Shelter
Environmental conditions can also influence ant activity. Changes in temperature, rainfall and available resources outdoors may encourage colonies to forage around buildings and indoor areas.
What Attracts Ants to Your Home?
Different ant species have different feeding preferences, but several common household resources can attract them.
Sugars and Sweet Foods
Sugary foods provide an easily accessible energy source for many ant species.
Potential attractants include:
- Juice and soft drink spills
- Jam
- Honey
- Syrup
- Melted ice cream
- Fruit and other sweet foods
Even a small amount left on a bench or floor may be enough for foraging ants to discover.
Proteins and Fats
Some ant species or colonies may seek protein and fatty foods, particularly depending on their nutritional requirements.
Common sources include:
- Meat scraps
- Grease and cooking residue
- Cheese
- Pet food
- Food waste
Pantry Foods
Food stored in or around the pantry can also provide a reliable source for ants.
This may include:
- Cereal
- Rice
- Pasta
- Breadcrumbs
- Open food packaging
- Pet food
Keeping pantry products properly sealed can make these areas less attractive.
Water and Moisture
Ants also need access to water.
Moisture may be available around:
- Leaking taps
- Sinks
- Showers
- Condensation
- Damp areas
- Pet water bowls
- Plumbing leaks
Fixing persistent moisture problems can therefore form an important part of ant prevention.
How Do Ants Get Inside?
Ants can exploit very small gaps and openings around a building.
Common entry points include:
- Cracks and gaps
- Spaces around windows and doors
- Openings around pipes and utility lines
- Damaged screens
- Worn weather stripping
- Other gaps around the building exterior
Vegetation and objects touching the house can also provide convenient pathways.
Tree branches, shrubs and other plants close to the structure may allow ants easier access to exterior walls, roofing and potential entry points.
Common Ant Hotspots Around the Home
Ants will explore areas that provide suitable food, moisture or shelter.
Kitchen
Kitchens are one of the most common areas for ant activity because they provide numerous potential food and water sources.
Look around:
- Benchtops
- Pantries
- Bins
- Under appliances
- Pet feeding areas
- Sinks
Bathroom
Bathrooms can provide reliable moisture through sinks, showers, condensation and plumbing.
Bedroom and Living Areas
Food and drinks carried into bedrooms or living areas can create additional feeding opportunities.
Houseplants can also sometimes be associated with ant activity, particularly when other insects on the plants produce honeydew that ants feed on.
Laundry
Laundry areas may provide moisture, plumbing and stored pet food, making them another potential hotspot.
How to Make Your Home Less Attractive to Ants
Prevention focuses on reducing access to food, water, shelter and entry points.
Control Food Sources
- Store food in sealed containers
- Clean spills and crumbs promptly
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes out for extended periods
- Keep rubbish bins properly closed
- Clean underneath and behind appliances
- Store pet food securely
Manage Moisture
- Repair leaking taps and plumbing
- Wipe up standing water
- Improve ventilation in persistently damp areas
- Investigate unexplained moisture or leaks
Reduce Entry Points
- Seal appropriate cracks and gaps
- Repair damaged screens
- Check seals around doors and windows
- Trim vegetation away from the building
- Avoid storing materials directly against exterior walls where possible
What About Ant Trails?
Cleaning surfaces can help remove food residue and disrupt some of the pheromone trails ants use to navigate.
However, repeatedly wiping away visible ants doesn't necessarily eliminate the colony responsible for the activity.
If ants continue returning to the same area, there may be an established nest or reliable food and water source nearby.
When Should You Call a Professional?
Some ant problems can persist despite good cleaning and prevention.
Correct identification can be important because different ant species may behave differently and require different control strategies.
A professional pest-control technician can:
- Assess the extent of ant activity
- Help identify the ant involved
- Look for likely nesting and foraging areas
- Select an appropriate treatment method
- Recommend practical prevention measures
Don't Just Treat the Ants You Can See
The ants travelling across your kitchen bench may represent only a small part of a much larger colony.
Reducing food and moisture sources, limiting entry points and addressing the source of persistent activity can provide a more effective approach than simply dealing with individual ants as they appear.
Less food. Less moisture. Fewer opportunities for ants.
Need Help With an Ant Problem?
Clean Carpets and Pest Control Perth provides professional ant-control services throughout the Perth area.
If ants keep returning despite your efforts, contact our team to arrange an assessment and appropriate pest-control treatment.