People in Centralia experience warm days in the summer, which allows them to engage in outdoor activities. However, this season can also be the time for ants to surface in huge populations. These pests may not transmit diseases or cause structural damage like other pests. However, they can be a nuisance and can pose health risks as they can contaminate food and surfaces. Also, some species can give painful bites or trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
As a homeowner, you may want to know the reasons why ants thrive in the hottest months of the year. Also, you should know when to contact Pointe Pest Control for help with ant elimination and control. The company’s team of technicians can locate colonies and customize treatments to eliminate ants at the source. They can also provide preventative strategies to keep the pests from returning. Here’s why ant activity may increase in summer:
Warm Weather Fuels Activity
In Centralia, summer heat speeds up ants’ metabolism, making them more active and hungrier. Colonies that stay dormant or slow-moving during cooler months come alive once the ground warms. Workers become busier, leaving nests to search for food and water.
Abundant Food Sources
Summer is prime time for picnics, barbecues, and outdoor dining. Such activities may leave leaves behind crumbs, spills, and sweet drinks. These are primary attractants for ants. Even a small bit of fruit juice or a sticky soda can draw an entire trail of ants into your home. Gardens and fruit trees also offer natural food sources nearby.
Moisture Draws Them Closer
Centralia’s summer climate includes warm days with occasional rainfall. This creates damp areas where ants thrive. These pests are constantly looking for water sources. So, they can end up in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor hoses. But they may migrate indoors when natural sources dry up in the heat to find the moisture they need. This explains why sinks, leaky pipes, and pet water bowls attract so much ant activity during the summer months.
Colony Growth Peaks in Summer
Ant colonies grow fastest in warm weather. Queens produce more eggs, which hatch quickly due to the heat. This rapid growth allows colonies to expand at a pace that’s difficult to manage without intervention. The increase in population drives more ants into homes as they search for resources to sustain the expanding colony.
Longer Days Extend Foraging Time
More daylight hours in summer give ants extra time to forage. This extended foraging schedule means you may notice ants trailing along counters, floors, or sidewalks throughout the day.
Access Points Are Easier to Find
During summer, homeowners often keep windows open and leave doors ajar. Others move between indoors and outdoors. These habits create more opportunities for ants to find entry points. Cracks in foundations, gaps around doors, and holes in window screens are potential gateways. Ants have free access to your home if these openings are not sealed.
Plant Growth Supports Ant Activity
Centralia’s summer months offer lush vegetation, blooming plants, and thriving gardens. This surge in plant growth provides ants with shelter and food sources. Many species feed on honeydew produced by aphids and other plant-feeding insects, which are most active in summer. As plants grow, so do the insect populations that ants depend on. Yards, gardens, and ornamental landscaping around homes become hotspots for ants.
Soil Conditions Encourage Nesting
The soil becomes drier on the surface but remains moist below during summer in Centralia. This creates ideal nesting conditions for ants. They dig deeper tunnels to reach the cool, damp layers underground, which protect colonies from the heat. These tunnels also make it easier for ants to spread, since the dry topsoil allows for quick movement. Also, the lower levels provide a safe place for queens and brood.