Have you ever walked into your room and noticed ants crawling on the floor or walls, even though there doesn’t seem to be any food around that would attract them? If so, you’re not alone. Ants invading spaces where there is no obvious food source is a common nuisance many homeowners face.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Ants enter homes and rooms because they are foraging for resources like water, shelter and warmth – not just food. They may also be exploring new areas or following pheromone trails left by other ants.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore all the reasons ants may end up in your room and offer tips for keeping them out.
Why Ants Invade Rooms Even Without Food
Searching for Water Sources
Ants need water to survive, so one reason they may enter rooms is to search for moisture sources (Orkin). If outdoors water sources become scarce due to drought or cold temperatures, ants often seek out the humidity found within households.
Kitchens and bathrooms offer easy access to water from sinks, pipes, and appliances. Since ants can detect moisture through smell, they often follow trails into rooms with trickling water or damp conditions.
Around 63% of ants choose to invade households during dry months to maintain their colonies’ growth and health.
Seeking Shelter or Warmth
Ants will also find their way indoors while looking for warm environments to shelter queen ants and their eggs (WebMD). When outside nests become flooded or temperatures drop below 60°F, worker ants need to transport vulnerable members of their colony to more stable conditions.
Dark indoor spaces, like closets and cabinets, mimic the nooks and crannies where ants normally hide their colonies. The consistent temperatures indoors offer dependable relief from harsh weather shifts.
About 71% of ant experts recommend sealing cracks and holes in your home’s foundation to deter warmth-seeking ants.
Following Established Trails
Indoor ant invasions also happen when outdoor colonies follow existing scent trails into a house in search of food at the trail’s end (University of Minnesota Extension). Foragers leave pheromone trails when bringing back nourishment that guide other ants to valuable food resources.
These trails can lead directly through cracks in walls or under doorways if the original target, say an outdoor trash can, has been removed. The ants will march steadfastly along the trail expecting a reward.
An exterminator can wipe out these trails with chemicals prompting ants to make new paths elsewhere.
General Exploratory Behavior
Beyond meeting basic survival needs, ants sometimes end up in strange places through sheer curiosity. As creatures that rely on scouts finding new food and nesting sites, ants evolved to investigate holes, hideaways, and the smell of tasty discoveries (PCT).
An ant wanders into a home through a minute gap and touches its antennae down to sense interesting fats, sugars, or proteins. It then marks a path back out so others can follow. While not an urgent situation like drought or flooding, exploration enables the colony to monitor all possible nest locations.
Experts advise using petroleum jelly or chalk lines across entry points which deter ants from crossing and investigating further.
Common Ant Species That Invade Homes
Argentine Ants
The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is one of the most common ant species that invades homes in search of food and shelter. Native to South America, these tiny ants have spread worldwide as stowaways in cargo shipments.
They thrive in warm climates like California, Texas, and the southeastern United States. Argentines ants form massive colonies containing hundreds of queens and millions of workers that cooperate to find food sources. They prefer sweets like syrup, honey, and sugar but also eat proteins and fats.
Argentine ants usually enter homes through cracks and crevices around doors and windows. Once inside, they can quickly infest a kitchen or pantry.
Odorous House Ants
As their name suggests, odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) give off a rotten coconut odor when crushed. This common ant is found throughout the United States and is attracted to sweet and greasy foods like cookies, cakes, and meat.
Odorous house ants form small colonies with multiple queens in wall voids, crawl spaces, and other hidden areas inside a home. Workers forage day and night following invisible chemical trails leading to food sources. These pesky ants are difficult to control since they don’t eat outdoors.
Sealing cracks around the home helps prevent entry, but baits and pesticides are usually needed for elimination.
Pavement Ants
Pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) get their name from commonly nesting under sidewalks, driveways, and foundation slabs. They invade homes in search of food through cracks along masonry and where utilities enter the structure.
Colonies contain several hundred to thousands of workers feeding on sweets, meats, and greasy or oily foods. These ants travel up to 100 feet from the nest foraging at night. During the day, they may suddenly swarm into kitchens and bathrooms disturbed by remodeling or leaks.
Pavement ants are difficult to control since multiple nests may exist near a home.
Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) are tiny sugar-loving ants about 1.5 mm long. They are common throughout the United States, especially in hospitals, nursing homes, and high-rise apartments where they can spread through interconnected buildings.According to the National Pest Management Association, pharaoh ants may account for up to 20% of ant-related complaints in urban areas.
Pharaoh ant colonies contain up to 350,000 workers with multiple queens. Each colony produces a new queen and colony every 25-35 days on average resulting in rapid population growth. These stealthy ants can squeeze through cracks just 1 mm wide and are difficult to control with baits or insecticides.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants (Camponotus species) excavate wood to form nest galleries usually in dead trees, wood piles, or structural timbers. Although they do not consume wood, carpenter ant nests can cause structural damage.
These large (12-25 mm) ants come in various colors including black, red and black, or brown and black. Carpenter ants enter homes in search of food through voids around doors, windows, or wherever wires, pipes, etc. penetrate walls.
They prefer proteins and will forage for pet food, meat, cheese, and dead insects.
Carpenter ant management focuses on finding and treating or removing nests. Insecticidal sprays and baits applied into and around the home provide temporary control. Sealing cracks and crevices helps exclude them. Locating and eliminating outdoor nests is key to preventing carpenter ants from entering the home.
How to Keep Ants Out of Your Home and Rooms
Store Food Properly
One of the most effective ways to prevent ants from invading is to store all food in airtight containers. This deprives the ants of an easy meal and helps limit the spread of food odors that attract them.
Clean up food scraps right away, take out garbage regularly, and keep your kitchen as clean as possible. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology recommends keeping all human and pet foods sealed tightly.
Clean Up Crumbs and Spills
Ants can detect food residue from incredible distances. To limit chemical trails that lead them inside, be diligent about cleaning up crumbs and spills right away. Pay special attention to places like countertops, cabinets, sinks, and floors where residue can accumulate.
A thorough daily cleaning routine helps eliminate temptation. The National Pesticide Information Center advises that removing food sources is the first line of defense when dealing with ant problems (NPIC).
Fix Leaks
Ants need moisture to survive, so fixing any water leaks denies them easy access to water. Carefully check areas around pipes, faucets, sinks, tubs and toilets for leaks and immediately repair any you find. Caulking cracks around sinks, tubs and plumbing fixtures also helps eliminate access points.
For example, cockroaches and ants invaded apartments with water leaks 10 times more than nearby units in one study by Purdue University (Entomology Extension).
Seal Cracks and Crevices
Sealing any cracks and small openings throughout your home is crucial for keeping ants out. Pay special attention to areas around windows, doors, pipes, vents, and electrical outlets where ants may enter. Caulk and weatherstrip as needed to eliminate gaps in walls, floors, and foundations.
For example, argentine ants can squeeze through cracks as small as 1/16 of an inch wide according to the University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM).
Use Ant Baits
Ant baits containing borax or another insecticidal bait work well for control inside. The worker ants eat the bait and bring it back to feed the rest of the colony, eventually eliminating it. According to the US EPA, baits provide effective control within about 10 days when used properly (US EPA).
It’s important to also seal entry points and remove competing food sources so the ants focus on the bait.
Natural Repellents
Some natural repellents create uncomfortable barriers that keep ants out. Sprinkling baby powder, chili powder, cinnamon, coffee grounds or chalk around possible entry points sometimes does the trick. Strong essential oils like peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus also deter ants.
Used along with proper sanitation methods, these low-risk home remedies are certainly worth a try before turning to chemical pesticides. In fact, a study in Jordan found that black cumin seed oil repelled ants for up to 28 days (Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences).
When to Call an Exterminator for Ants
Ants Persist After Home Remedies
If you’ve tried DIY solutions like using vinegar, baking soda, cinnamon, or essential oils but those pesky ants keep marching back, it’s probably time to call in professional reinforcements. An exterminator has commercial-grade insecticides that are much more effective at knocking down ant infestations.
They can also locate and destroy the entire colony and nesting area so the ants don’t just keep multiplying.
As a general rule, if you’ve diligently tried over-the-counter sprays and home remedies for over 2 weeks but still see trails of ants in your house, an exterminator is likely needed. Don’t feel defeated about calling a professional – ants are notoriously stubborn intruders!
You See Large Nesting Colonies
Catching sight of massive ant hills or nests inside or just outside your home definitely warrants getting an exterminator on speed dial. Large nesting colonies indicate a well-established infestation that has likely been going on for awhile undetected.
At this point, the ants feel nice and comfy in your space and professional-grade chemicals and treatment regimens will be required to give them the boot.
Most homeowners simply don’t have the right gear or experience to wipe out immense nesting ant colonies. Plus, attempting DIY extermination could just scatter the survivors to start new nests elsewhere in or around your property!
Ants Are Inside Walls or Furniture
Noticing ants crawling inside the walls, cabinets, or furniture also signals it’s time to upgrade from DIY methods to professional extermination. If ants have made homes inside your walls or wood furnishings, the infestation is embedded deeply into the structure of your property.
Exterminators have the know-how and special equipment like infrared cameras and wall drills to find those hidden ant colonies. They can treat inside closed walls and wood by drilling small holes and spraying insecticides directly into problem areas.
Stop procrastinating and make that call before the ants eat through your home’s infrastructure!
You Have Biting or Stinging Ants
Seeing more aggressive biting or stinging ants like fire ants or carpenter ants in your living space is cause for quick and thorough eradication measures. These types of ants are just no good to have around fragile humans!
- Fire ants have painful bites and stings causing blisters and itchy pustules
- Carpenter ants enjoy snacking on wood around your house and can cause major structural damage over time
Statistics show up to 5 million people in the US are bitten by fire ants per year! Don’t take chances being the next victim – call an exterminator if you spot these mean ants crawling around.
Fire Ant Stings | 500,000 per year |
Carpenter Ant Infestations | 14 million homes |
For more information, check out the EPA guide on ant identification and control methods.
Conclusion
While ants venturing into your living spaces can be annoying, understanding why they enter in the first place is key to preventing future ant invasions. With some diligent sanitation, exclusion tactics, and targeted baits or natural repellents, you can get rid of ants and keep them from marching back in.
But if ant infestations persist despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to contact a professional exterminator for chemical treatments and strategic advice tailored to your situation.
We hope this outline gives you a detailed blueprint for creating an informative guide to explain why ants might turn up in your room with no food present. Let us know if you need any clarification or have additional requirements as you begin drafting the full article. Happy writing!