When the heat of summer gives way to cooler fall and winter temperatures, ants’ daily routine shifts, too. You may be breathing a sigh of relief that you no longer need to be as vigilant about keeping ants out of your home.
But don’t let your guard down. While it may seem as though ants go away in the colder months, this is not actually the case. Read on to learn about ants and their daily behavior during fall and winter and what it means for your Arizona home.
Fall Is Mating Season
For most ant species, fall is the time for reproduction. Surprisingly, ants mate while in flight, so you may see ants in the air as well as on the ground. Once fertilized, the queen will begin to search for a suitable place to nest, while the male typically dies within a day or two of mating.
The queen will then spend the winter caring for her larvae, often recruiting others in the colony to assist as well. If a particular colony is nearing its capacity, the queen may even leave to start a new colony elsewhere. In the spring, the new ants emerge, ready to get to work on building and caring for their colony.
Differences in Ants’ Daily Routine in Winter
Ants’ daily routine is markedly different during the colder months than it is in the spring and summer. Ants are cold-blooded creatures, so they need environmental warmth to keep from freezing. That is why they are typically much more active during the summer, and you are more likely to see them in or around your Arizona home.
But when the temperature drops, the ants must seek out warm places to make their nests and shield themselves from the cold. Many ant species go into a sort of hibernation during the winter, lying dormant in their nests to conserve energy until the weather warms back up again.
To achieve this goal, ants will dig deeper into the ground where the temperature is warmer and more stable than at the surface. In some cases, though, they may seek refuge indoors, like inside your home or business.
Although the ants are far less active during the winter, just because you don’t see them as frequently doesn’t mean they are not there. Reach out to Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination to ensure your home or office is ant-free.
Finding Ants in Your Arizona Home
Although ants’ daily routine consists largely of resting during the winter, you will still see them outside the nest on occasion. When it comes to homes, ants typically prefer warm areas with plentiful food. This is why the kitchen and pantry are among their preferred sites, and where you’ll most often see these tiny critters.
Ants need water to survive as well, which is another reason why you’ll often find them in your kitchen. Bathrooms are common ant sites as well, thanks to the readily available water, and possible sweet smells. Ants are drawn to sweet things, so they may be attracted to the scent of your shampoo, body wash, or other personal care products.
Suspect Your Home Is Part of Ants’ Daily Routine?
Now that you know a bit more about ants’ daily routine during the colder seasons, you can stay vigilant about keeping them out of your home. Do your best to keep your home clean and tidy, and wipe up any spills as soon as they occur to avoid attracting the ants.
We offer great solutions that target the “queen” of your issue. Best of all, our materials and products are safe around the entire family – including pets. To get the best results from your ant eradication efforts, it is best to work with professional pest control experts like us.