Date Posted: January 20, 2021
Category: Ants
With the weather turning colder, people in Connecticut naturally see less pest activity, at least from insects. With ants, however, their activity may decrease in the winter, but they're still very much active.
This goes double if the ants are already in your home from the fall season, and particularly if they're carpenter ants. In fact, the most common ants you'll see in winter are:
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Carpenter ants: Growing up to 1/2 an inch in length, this species is black in color and is fully able to survive the cold of winter. In fact, if the season is mild enough, they'll remain active instead of going dormant. They also cause property damage in a manner similar to termites, as they nest in structural wood rather than eating it.
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Little black ants: They prefer to stay outside but will go inside in search of food and water. More common during the fall, this is one species to watch out for before winter takes hold. If they're already inside, you'll deal with them the entire season. They are black in color and only make it up to about 1/2 an inch long.
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Pavement ants: Since they reside near your home's foundation, it's possible they'll slip inside in search of heat when the weather turns cold.
Biology At Work
Understanding the activities of ants in winter requires understanding their behavior and the biology behind it. Some behaviors ants exhibit in winter include:
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Overwintering: Ants are masters of this technique. Overwintering in layman's terms means the pest can wait out the winter by going into a form of hibernation. Before they're fully dormant, they will seek out warm places to hide.
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Feeding increases: Most species will increase the amount of food they consume to put on weight before overwintering. You can protect yourself better from a winter infestation by making food scarce in the fall.
If you're seeing ants in your home, then it means there's already an active infestation at work. In this case, you need professional assistance to correct the problem.
Ant Prevention That Works
The best way to avoid ants in winter is to reduce the things that attract them to your home in the first place. Some helpful ways to prevent an ant infestation include:
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Clean up food: Ants will eat your food even if they're "leftovers" or crumbs. As such, consistent cleaning, sweeping, and wiping down are needed to make your home less attractive to ants.
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Remove the water: Just because it's getting colder, that doesn't mean ants don't need readily available water. Take time to ensure you don't have any leaks or standing water to attract the ants inside.
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Easy access: Ants are tiny and will slip through the tiniest cracks. As the weather turns colder, they'll be drawn to the heat of your house. Make your home less of a target by sealing off all entry points before they can get inside.
No More Ants With Big Blue Bug Solutions
Even in the middle of winter, ants can be a big problem for homeowners in Connecticut. That's why our team at Big Blue Bug Solutions is here to ensure you're not a victim of overwintering ants, especially those, like carpenter ants, that seek to destroy your property. We provide ongoing pest control that utilizes preventive measures while addressing any current infestations to make sure you receive peace of mind.
Do you need ant control services? Then give Big Blue Bug Solutions a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional pest control options or fill out our online form to schedule your free inspection.
