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Why Do I Have Ants in My Kitchen?

Posted by: Cooper Pest

Kitchens are like magnets for ant infestations. It’s easy to accidentally drop a few crumbs or drips every now and then, and even with extensive cleaning efforts, it’s hard to keep ants from congregating nearby. Here are some of the most common reasons why ants invade kitchens:

  • Food: Ants are always on the lookout for a good meal, and your kitchen is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for them. Crumbs, spills, and improperly sealed snacks are sure to attract ants over time. Pet food bowls are also a commonly overlooked source of food for all sorts of pests, including ants. 
  • Scents and residue: Even if your kitchen is spotless and crumb-free, the scents and residues left after wiping up spills could be enough to draw ants into your home. As ants travel, they also leave behind pheromone trails that alert other insects about nearby food sources, so it doesn’t take a lot of time for more and more ants to show up. 
  • Water: Just like us, ants need water to survive. And guess what? Kitchens often provide a never-ending water supply. That dripping faucet or the damp spot under the sink will provide them with all the moisture they need. 
  • Easy entry: Ants are skilled at finding their way indoors through tiny cracks, gaps, or openings in walls, windows, doors, and foundations. Once inside, they leave chemical trails known as pheromones to guide other members of their colony, leading to a steady stream of invaders.
  • Nesting sites: Ants seek out safe and sheltered places to establish their nests. Kitchens offer numerous potential nesting sites, such as behind baseboards, under appliances, within cabinets, or even beneath flooring. Dark, undisturbed areas are particularly attractive to them.

Ants on Kitchen Counter

What Are the Tiny Black Ants in My Kitchen?

Tiny black ants tend to show up in kitchens and bathrooms, trailing around and seemingly out of nowhere. If you see small black ants in your kitchen, don’t panic! These are the common ants that you’ll find indoors, referred to as “nuisance ants” or “odorous house ants.” 

While house ants don’t cause property damage and aren’t known to bite or spread disease, they are still a problem to have crawling around your kitchen. They may get into your food or drinks, causing a serious headache over time. 

If you notice large black ants, you may have a carpenter ant problem, which can cause severe damage to your home. If you have either of these pests and can’t seem to get rid of them, it may be a good idea to speak with an exterminator. 

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Kitchen

Tiny Kitchen Ants

Getting rid of ants in your kitchen isn’t an easy task, but it may be possible to handle this type of infestation on your own. To prevent odorous house ants from entering your home, follow these tips:

  • Eliminate standing water, like dripping faucets or water splashes
  • Cut landscaping away from your home so ants can’t climb indoors
  • Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your house
  • Clean up spills and drips quickly
  • Store food in airtight containers
  • Pick up pet bowls every evening

Spraying ants with vinegar will also most likely kill them on contact, which can be helpful against very small invasions. The problem with this tactic, though, is that you are only killing the ants that you see. Even if you sit up all night in your kitchen spraying every ant that crawls by, you still won’t stop the continued activity. Getting to the colony is the only way to get rid of your problem long-term.

Where Do Ants Hide Indoors?

Small odorous house ants are typically found in bathrooms and kitchens but can appear just about anywhere. Their ability to scale walls and travel between the stories of your home allows them to forage in a wide radius. They are also drawn to basements due to increased moisture levels that inherently exist. 

That said, ants don’t usually live indoors. They create colonies around your property, sending what are called “scout ants” to find water and food to take back to the colony. Have you ever wondered why sometimes you see one ant and other times you see hundreds? When you see a single ant, that’s the scout ant trying to find necessities and signal the colony to follow.

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Ant Infestations

Even with all the effort in the world, ants are some of the hardest pests to control. If you can’t seem to get rid of your ant problem, it may be helpful to work with a professional ant exterminator. Our skilled service technicians will analyze the sources of your ant activity and treat the exterior of your home to create a protective barrier that offers long-lasting peace of mind.

Call us today to schedule your ant control service!

How does Cooper get rid of ants in my house?

One-Time Ant Control Plan

Get Rid of Ants in Kitchen

Our skilled service technicians will analyze the sources of your ant activity and treat the exterior of your home to create a protective barrier. Gel baiting may be applied indoors if the technician determines that additional treatments are necessary for effective ant control.

1-2 days after treatment, you can expect to see a 50% reduction in ant activity and 90-100% reduction in ant activity after 7-10 days. Our One-Time Ant Control Plan is 100% guaranteed for 90 days. If you have any further ant activity during the 90 days, we will come back to provide further service for free.

The One-Time Ant Control Plan is now available to purchase online! Click the button below to schedule service on the date that works best for you. No inspection needed.

Order Ant Control Service

Home Traditional Plan

The Home Traditional Service Plan is a substantial value for the homeowner that does not want to be bothered by crawling ants, insects, mice, and wasps. The Home Traditional Service Plan provides preventive pest and rodent control for your home, year round. As part of your plan, you will receive four services per year. Each year you will receive three exterior maintenance services (March – November) and one interior service (December – February). There are some exclusions in the Home Traditional Service Plan when compared to the Home Intensive Service Plan. The plan provides you with unlimited technician service calls if you are having issues with any of the covered pests.

Both Home Plans are now able for purchase online! Click the button below to schedule service with contactless online checkout.

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Home Intensive Plan

The Home Intensive Service Plan is designed to provide preventive pest and rodent control for your home, year round. This is our most popular service for homeowners. The service plan includes four preventive services per year. Each service is unique and will be accompanied by a detailed 30-point inspection report with detailed findings as well as providing you with important recommendations for your home. Each year you will receive three exterior maintenance services (March – November) and one interior service (December – February). The winter service will focus on the interior of the structure and is geared towards rodents and other pests that may live within the structure. The plan provides you with unlimited technician service calls if you are having issues with any of the covered pests.

 

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