Ant activity can decrease during the winter months, but that doesn't mean you won't be seeing them—especially if they're already in your home. In the middle of winter, you can find tiny ants crawling on your kitchen sink or moving lock-step across your kitchen floor. You can open your pantry and find them crawling all over a food package. Today, we're going to talk about what happens to Brentwood ants in the winter, why ant sightings may decrease, and what you need to know if you see ants in your home during the winter months. As always, if you need immediate assistance with pest control in Brentwood, you can quickly reach out to us through our contact page.
Where Do Ants Go In Winter?
It might seem like ants just pick everything up and move south for the winter. Some days, there isn't an ant to be found outside. But they don't really go anywhere. When temperatures drop low enough, ants retreat into their nests. Many of these nests are in the ground where temperatures don't vary as quickly, so ants can stay nice and comfortable even on the coldest Brentwood days. But when temperatures warm up, they come right back out. When ants hide in their nests, they're not exploring your exterior and finding ways to get into your home. This is why you may not see ants in your Brentwood home during the winter.
What If You Do See Winter Ants?
If ants have created an indoor nest, you may see them at any time during the winter. The temperatures in your home will not prevent ants from coming out of their nest to forage for food. When they find food, you can bet they're going to rally an army to collect what they can. Ants lay down pheromones to recruit other ants to collect food. This is how ants communicate. So, you shouldn't be surprised to find an army of ants all in one spot, even on a winter day.
Should You Be Concerned About Winter Ants?
In most cases, ants are just a nuisance. It doesn't matter what season of the year you see them. But, seeing winter ants may mean they're indoor ants, and if they're indoor ants, they could be carpenter ants. If so, it is definitely time to contact a licensed professional for ant pest control. Carpenter ants have the potential to damage the wood of your home and create structural issues.
What Does A Carpenter Ant Look Like?
These ants may be entirely black or a mix of dark red and black. They have one node between the thorax and abdomen (the waist). They have minor and major workers, so you may notice that they're not all the same size. The small ants may be ¼ of an inch long and the big ones could be as long as ⅝ of an inch.
If you suspect that you have a carpenter ant infestation but you don't know for sure, we'd be happy to take a look at those ants for you. Take a photo of an ant with your smartphone and send it to us, or we could send one of our service professionals over to take a look.
What Is The Best Pest Control Company For Ants In Brentwood?
At All-American Pest Control, we train hard and work hard to give our customers effective ant control, every time. You can trust our service team to give you industry-leading solutions for your ant problems in every season. Reach out to us for immediate assistance.