Ants are attracted to any place that has water and food, so it’s no wonder that they are one of the most common types of pests found in a house. Although ants do not generally harm humans, they can damage your home, particularly if they are carpenter ants. With that in mind, here are a few ways to tell if your home has an ant infestation:
Perhaps the most evident sign of an ant infestation is a long line of ants which are usually traveling along pipes and wires or along baseboards. You may even see hundreds of them doing this. To find their point of entry simply follow this trail and see where it leads.
Did you know? Ants will send out scouts to search for food. If you observe just a few ants wandering around, then you have found the scouts. Again, if you follow them, you will find their entry point.
Ants, especially carpenter ants, love making their nests in damp wood. If there are ants in your home, look for their nests in areas that may have been damaged by leaking water, such as sink and bathtub surrounds, poorly sealed window and door frames, and the roof area.
When ants hollow out wood, they form galleries. While you may not see these galleries at first, you may notice fine sawdust. This sawdust is the result of the galleries being formed. Try tapping on some woodwork with a screwdriver. If dust starts to fall from it, you may have found the ant’s nest.
You should also look for possible entry points where ants (or any other insect) can access the inside of your home. Entry points are often found in cracks and holes in a wall, the foundations, and the area where a pipe enters the house.
