Have you been seeing black ants in your home of late? What does their presence tell you or mean? If you have noticed such presence, it’s normal to ask questions about what their presence entails and more.
Here, we’ll be discussing black ants in the house and what their presence means.
By their nature, ants are gatherers. They scavenge for food wherever they can and haul their cache back to their colony. As such, their presence speaks volumes as it points to one thing; the presence of food.
This article will consider such behavior and more.
What Black Ant Presence Means
There are lots of superstitious beliefs attached to black hands being found in a house in their numbers.
In this article, we’ll be more practical or logical in explaining the reasons for such. As mentioned earlier, ants are attracted by food and will always to where they think or sense its presence.
Any home should serve as a potential food target for ants. As people feed, they generate a lot of wastes which tiny insects like ants feed on. When not properly stored or sealed, these creatures will directly target your uncovered food.
Black ants feed on a variety of food substances, including other insects. Some of the foods consumed by them include cotton flea hoppers, corn meals, sweets, vegetables, honeydew, and greasy or oily foods.
Others include secretions from plants and a whole lot of other items which makes them omnivorous.
Ants will always haul their find back to their nests. They do this effectively by releasing pheromones which helps other ants navigate towards food sources.
Now that you know what attracts ants into your house, you’ll need to find ways to get rid of these to discourage them from returning.
Black Ants In The House Meaning
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Sugar
If you have sugar lying around without proper covering, ants will likely pounce on it within a short time.
Black ants are known to love sugar. It’s one of their favorite foods and cannot resist the temptation to dig in.
So, you might want to go on inspection to find out if there’s sugar anywhere including spilled sugar. Black ants will have a feast when they come across sugar.
Black Ant Habitat
Before black ants swoop-in on your residence, they are usually nested in a variety of areas.
These include exposed soil, mulch, underneath logs, debris, and stones. When black ants eventually find their way into your home, they’re likely to nest in floor cracks and walls.
Within homes, black ants love dark and protected areas. They usually move in trails in search of food. You’ll usually come across them connecting to their food source. A whole lot of work goes into transporting the food from its source to its nests.
Presence of Entryways
Another reason for the presence of black ants in your home is the availability of entryways. Black ants are tiny and can easily fit in or pass through the smallest spaces they come across. These range from gaps and cracks as well as spaces between walls.
The best way to handle this situation is by getting rid of these entry points.
Finding and sealing these gaps can be quite challenging. You’ll need to carefully observe every space around your walls, especially the foundations. A handy sealant you can use for this task is the silicone caulk.
Closing off such entryways goes a long way to keep them out. This should be done after successfully decimating their population in your home. Such safeguards ensure that black ants are pushed back and stay out for good.
Water Source
Another reason why you find black ants in your home is due to the availability of water.
Just like food, ants need water to survive. You don’t have to allow water gush out for black pants to find your home inviting. Moisture and leakages are enough to draw their attention.
As such, consider fixing your leaky pipes and always dry all damp towels and sponges after each wash. To keep black ants at bay, you must ensure they don’t find suitable conditions as shelter, food, and water.
Black Ants May Simply Be On Transit
Black ants may just be passing through your house to a food source farther away. These insects are known to cover significant distances when foraging for food. In such situations, the target isn’t your home, but an objective farther away.
If you’re curious enough, you can follow their trail to where they are headed. This isn’t usually easy as obstacles may be present. Black ants are tiny and can past through even the tiniest of spaces. You cannot! So, you’re likely to be left or closed out in a bid to trace their destination.
Controlling this situation is more challenging than when their target (food) is within your home. You have applied a pest treatment along their route or path until they keep away. More importantly, consider finding ways to block off your home to prevent easy access to them.
Controlling Black Ants In Homes
Having ascertained the reasons why these creatures infest a home, it’s necessary to fight back. Fighting back an ant infestation won’t be successful by focusing on killing them on sight. Rather, a multi-pronged approach best solves this problem.
This multi-pronged approach involves eliminating their food sources as well as exterminating them. Sometimes just removing possible food sources alone is sufficient to make them relocate or move out of your home.
To remove possible food sources, you’ll need to store food in airtight containers as well as frequently clean crumbs and any other food scattered around. All foods must not be left open and the fridge should be used to also store or preserve them.
It’s important to clean your home as frequently as possible. Wiping countertops, sinks, and pantry areas with an appropriate cleaner help eliminate scent trails left behind.
Conclusion
The meaning of black ants in your house is pretty much straightforward; availability of food, shelter, and water.
These conditions always attract them to come forward. We’ve stated the need for preventive action to be taken. This includes eliminating all possible food sources as well as sealing off entryways among others.