If you live in the Bay Area, you have likely had to deal with ants around your property on several different occasions. At times, it seems as if these relentless insects can be everywhere you go. They are there when you are outside, and you can also see them crawling inside your home.
At Bay Pest, we are this area's premier ant control specialists. Our Bay Area pest control technicians have years of experience finding and eliminating ants in your home. We can help you quickly make your home ant-free once again.
Why Ants Are Always A Potential Home Invader In The Bay Area
Ants are the most active during the summer months. They thrive in warm and humid conditions, which is why the Bay Area is a popular destination for them. During the summer, many worker ants leave the nest to look for food. If they find a viable food or water source around your home, they might move their entire colony to your home.
Ants don't just move their colonies in the summer; they can also do this any time of year. When it gets cold outside, the ants might move into your home to escape the frigid nighttime temperatures. Also, if there is a lot of rain in the area, ants will try to find a safe shelter that they can live in, usually inside a person's home.
How Ants Get Inside
All types of ants in the Bay Area are small and crafty creatures. Worker ants have two small claws at the end of their feet that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Between these two claws is an inflatable pad called arolia that fills up with liquid whenever the ant spreads their claws apart. This sticky foot pad allows the ants to defy gravity by easily walking up walls, on ceilings, and on a variety of smooth surfaces like metal and glass.
Most ants don't measure over ⅛ of an inch long. With their small size and "sticky" feet, almost no area is off-limits to an ant. They will sneak into your home through small cracks in the walls, gaps around the windows, or by squeezing through the space around electrical wires and pipes.
Factors That Attract Ants To Certain Bay Area Homes
Ants will invade any home that provides food, water, and shelter. They like to eat a wide variety of foods and will search your garbage cans and other unsanitary places to find their next meal. Some of the things that could be attracting ants to your home include:
- Leaving your pet's food and water dishes out.
- Clutter in your home or yard creates hiding spots for the ants.
- Accessible trash cans that don't have sealable lids.
- Leaky faucets or pipes cause excessive moisture in your home.
Most of the time, ants will try to come into your home by slipping through the cracks and gaps of your house. However, homeowners may also accidentally bring ants into their homes. If you are moving a potted plant or other moist objects into your house, you should thoroughly inspect it for ants first to prevent a potential ant infestation.
What To Do If You've Started Seeing Ants Around Your Home
If you see ants in your home or on your property, call us as soon as possible. Early intervention is the key to effective ant control. At Bay Pest, we combine our years of experience with professional ant treatment plans to ensure the elimination of every ant from your Bay Area home for good.