Ants are EVERYWHERE in the summer… They ruin your picnics, your barbecues, your time outdoors as well as inside… So where are they now? Do ants hibernate? Do they hitch a ride down south? Or are they actually indoors?

Here’s what you need to know about ants in the winter!

Although they aren’t technically hibernating, ants enter an inactive state with their colonies as soon as the cold weather hits. The reason we don’t consider this a “hibernation” is because ants will actually continue with their lifestyle and daily work when the weather is milder, even in the dead of winter. If you happen to see ants inside your home during the winter months, it would be a great cause for concern as typically this means that there is an ant colony living within your homes structure, and more often than not, they are doing damage!

Carpenter ants especially will seek the warmth of the indoors as they love to feast on damp wood. Your homes structure for instance, is a perfect feeding ground in the winter for carpenter ants as it’s usually soaked through from the cold slush and snow that seeps in. Ant colonies will make a home inside your walls where it’s warm with a ’round the clock’ buffet.

It’s important to look for early signs of carpenter ants inside the home. These signs will include sawdust like droppings on the exterior of your trim, openings or holes in walls (sometimes very, very small), and actually seeing an ant or ants that may or may not be in formation. Carpenter ants can do excessive damage, even in the winter when you least expect it.

• Make sure to clear away and decaying wood from around your home including inside the garage.
• Make sure firewood is stacked a good distance away from your home, and never against your house.
• Remove food sources (Keep all food in a sealed container, and wipe up crumbs etc.)
• Correct any humidity problems in your home
• Keep your home clean to prevent infestations

If you think you have a carpenter ant, or pest issue this winter, please do not hesitate to give us a call!