Ants are a year-round nuisance for many homeowners in Kansas City. You might think they are only to see them showing up again. These persistent pests may appear in new places or with more friends.
Getting rid of ants is not easy, especially as it involves eliminating the colony itself. You may not be able to free your home from these unwanted visitors for good unless you work with experts, especially those you can find at saelapest.com . So, why do ants love Kansas City homes so much?
Kansas City’s Climate Makes a Great Home for Ants
Kansas City has hot summers and cold winters. Ants can adapt to different temperatures. They are active and looking for food during warm months. They head indoors to stay warm and safe when it is cold.
Many homes provide the perfect shelter. Basements, kitchens, and walls offer warmth and moisture, especially during colder months. This is the reason why you might notice more ant activity in the spring and fall when they are making their seasonal moves.
Ants Are Always Searching for Food and Water
Ants are always on the lookout for something to eat. One of them will alert the rest of the colony when a reliable food source is found. Ants may move in when they discover a sticky spot on the counter, a little bit of pet food on the floor, or an uncovered trash can. Kitchens and bathrooms are their favorite places because of the constant availability of food and water.
Ant Colonies Are Larger Than You Think
Seeing a few ants marching along your windowsill means seeing just a small part of the problem. These visible ants are scouts. Their job is to search for food and bring it back to the colony. This colony could be home to thousands or hundreds of thousands of ants.
Some species, like Argentine ants and odorous house ants, are especially common in Kansas City and are known for their huge colonies. These types can have multiple queens, which makes it harder to eliminate them completely.
Ants Are Great at Hiding
You might successfully get rid of the ants you see, but the rest of the colony is usually tucked away in hard-to-reach spots. These spots include under floors, inside walls, beneath sidewalks, and in tree roots near your home.
Most DIY methods only kill the ants that are out in the open, leaving the colony untouched. This is a reason ants come back even after you spray or clean.
Ant Trails Keep Them Coming Back
Ants leave behind a chemical trail, which is a scent that guides the other ants straight to the food source. Others will just follow it again if you do not clean the trail.
Regular cleaners do not always remove the scent. Thorough cleaning and the right treatment are both important to break the cycle.
Ants Can Nest Indoors
Some ants move in. Carpenter ants, for example, will nest inside wooden structures. Others nest under floors or foundations. Ants don’t have much reason to leave when they find a safe place indoors.
DIY Fixes Often Miss the Mark
Store-bought pest control products might kill the ants you see, but they rarely reach the source of the problem. In some cases, ants even avoid certain baits or split up the colony and form new nests when threatened.
Ants just keep coming back without treating the entire problem. Professional pest control services often use targeted methods that reach deep into nesting areas and stop ants at the source.
Landscaping and Yard Conditions Play a Role
Your yard might be helping ants find their way inside. Ants may use overgrown shrubs, piles of leaves, mulch beds, or tree branches that touch your home as pathways.
Cracks in the foundation or gaps around doors and windows give them access. The warmth and food make them want to stay once they are inside. Regular yard maintenance and sealing up entry points can go a long way in keeping ants outside where they belong.
