Here's Why Ants Are In Your Room (Even When There's No Food) - Pest Clues (2023)

Ants are one of the most intelligent and hard-working insects you will ever meet. It's almost a shame to classify them with the common plague. What other insect do you know of that people keep on a small ant farm just to watch them work?

While it may seem obvious, food isn't the only thing that attracts ants to your home. Ants in your home may be looking for shelter or water sources and may be attracted to your plants. Clutter in the home, pheromones from other ants, and pleasant odors can also attract ants to your home.

Aside from food, water, shelter, and mating all have the potential to attract ants to your home. You may be feeding ants without even knowing it! Read on to gain knowledge and control over your ant invasion.

The ants may be searchingSchutz

Have you ever noticed that ants appear after a heavy rain? You can go directly to your room from outside. Sidewalk ants are the most common and live in cracks in the sidewalk in front of the house.When it rains or floods, they don't want to drown.

So they come marching. The same goes for other mound-forming ants in your yard, including fire ants. However, it would have to be a flood.

If they succeed, they enter. Other ants may live well below the mound in the ground, low enough to avoid water.

Floods and rain are not the only attractions of the house. Only the opposite weather pattern will make them pack up.

It sounds frustrating but it's true. When there are droughts, ants find your place more attractive. You can catch them by marching into the kitchen and bathroom to look for the water that isn't outside.

Extreme cold and heat will also cause ants to seek coolness or warmth. So you can't win if you lose to the ants. You just need to understand their weather, track when you see them, and be aware of what's going on outside.

How do I keep ants away?

We could suggest a few things here, but this is the number one problem we mention because it's the hardest to fix. Unfortunately, if you have a large ant infestation, you may need to consider a pest control company.

In the meantime, if you want to stay active yourself, you can repair any cracks and crevices you see outside the house. If you see them go by, start there. but it's difficult.

Seriously, call a professional if it's really bad.

If you think you can handle it, check out our guide:The 12 Best Traps for Small Ants and How to Use Them.

Pet food bowls attract ants.

Pet food and water bowls are one of the most ignored ways to attract ants and many other insects and critters. For other pests, you may not see evidence that they were there. However, you can usually catch ants in the act.

They are not easily distracted from the duties imposed on them by Her Majesty the Ant Queen. They know that no matter what consequence they may expect from you, there may be something wrong with their little heads if they don't try their best.

If you go to the dog's food or water bowl, you'll likely see everything from a small but long line of ants running to and from the bowl. Food and water in the same place is a gold mine for ants.

How to keep ants away from your pet's food

Food and water are under attack at all hours of the day and night. That makes the solution a bit more challenging.

Many people do not feed their dogs at a specific time, but this is the best way. Skipping shells, whether dry or wet, attracts ants.

However, if you insist on feeding him all day or your schedule dictates, there is a solution.

The pit method works very well. Take a baking sheet of any shape and as long as it is larger than the food bowl. Fill it with water just an inch and place your pet's bowl inside. The ants get into the can and get stuck, and can't get out.

To learn more, read our guide:A Pet Owner's Guide to Keeping Ants Away from Pet Food.

Water sources attract ants

The water source is large because there are many water sources in multiple areas of your house. The feeding bowls just mentioned are the culprits if the water is left out.You may have to drain and refill the water a bit if you have a lot of ants inside.

The best thing to do is to have the bowls in a special room. Vacuum and spot clean drips and spills. A pet door in an enclosed, isolated space may be necessary if you have a serious ant problem.

The closest water source is the kitchen. You might see ants in or around the sink, maybe even in the drain. Be sure to clean your garbage disposal regularly.

How to keep ants out of water

Regularly clean your sink and any food debris in it. Have a dry kitchen towel ready and wipe any water droplets from the sink. They want water, period and after finding it they alerted the whole family in a matter of hours!

Ant traps in places like your windowsill and sink would be nice, but be sure to read all the safety and placement instructions on the trap's packaging.

WhatLiquid ant killer TERRO T300BThe traps can keep innocent hands or paws out of the way and keep your room free of ants. They are ready to use and designed not to dry out!

Remember, if your schedule doesn't allow you to perform this type of maintenance, call a professional.

Cracks and crevices let ants in

Cracks and crevices are where ants find, even when you can't see them. It's impossible to fill every crack in a house, but secure the ones you can see at the most common spawn points.

How can I seal my house from ants?

Do an inspection of the window frames in each room. Keep several things in mind.

• Can you see ants coming in or find ant remains?
• What are window frames made of?

If your window frames are older and made of wood, you can use a wooden putty knife and fill the entire window frame.They usually have long cracks and small cracks across the surface horizontally at the bottom and vertically up and down the side where the glass meets the wood.

This is time-consuming work, but it may be worth it if you live in a wooded or rural area and are subject to frequent ant visits.

If putty and a wooden putty knife aren't your style,Tarose weatherstrippingcould be the solution you need. This tape can be used to seal your windows and doors against heat, cold, wind and most importantly against insects.

You can also check the seals around the window. If they have dried out, replace them. If your windows are not made of wood, caulking along the cracks will also work.

Be sure to remove any ant attractants outside

There are other ways to combat ants that enter through windows and cracks. We say this because without pest control, there is no foolproof way to deal with ant invasions.

Examine the soil around the house. Do you have things you like there?A big problem that attracts ants is stumps and dead trees.

Do you have any of these on the property? If you do, call an arborist or dispose of it yourself if you are experienced and able to do so in accordance with local ordinances. However, it is always best to leave things in the hands of a trained arborist.

Do you have a body of water, fountains or places that accumulate a lot of water during the rainy season? If so, you can find anthills and mounds by inspecting them.See a professional to get rid of these too, especially if they are fire ants.

Plants that ants like can attract them

Your room and your plot could have plants that they like. Below is a short list of the most common flower ants that ants like the most.

The key here is that they pollinate, yes most people don't realize that ants are an important part of pollination. They mostly come with small, sweet flowers, but they also attract large flowers.

Here is the short list. So this and any cute little flowers could be suspicious to ants and warrant inspection.

• peony: Only some breeds of peonies attract ants. If this is the case, however, you will find them between the closed buds and not during flowering.
  
• Clematis: These flowers attract ants if they have aphids.

Bonus Tip:Aphids on your plants lead to ants

Wherever there are aphids that destroy plants and flowers, you can find ants. In most cases, with clematis and other plants that attract aphids, once you get rid of the aphids, you are rid of your ant problem.

• Rosa: For some types of roses, such as climbing, tea and wild roses, the same rules apply as for clematis. Get rid of the aphids and the ants don't have to be there. The ants won't destroy the roses, so you don't have to worry.
  
• beard tongue: Sometimes called Pentstemon. These attract the Radiant Hummingbird, and sadly, ants as well.

It's easier to treat your entire yard or property for aphids to keep the ants they attract away.

Scents that attract ants

Ants have an amazing sense of smell. They have a much stronger sense of smell than most other insects. They love sweet things, of course, but sometimes you have to think outside the box.

• dulce: Do you have sweets in your room? Even wrapped candy, if not in a tightly sealed bag, will attract ants to your room. You can't think of it as food.
  
• your energy drink: You may not have food in your room in the traditional sense, but you may have an energy drink with an outrageous amount of sugar. Check to see if he left little rings from the tin on a desk, which is more than enough to draw an army.
  
• T-shirts: The same rule applies to teas and other drinks like sodas as it does to energy drinks. Any spill or even an open, empty can, jar, or tea bag will do.
  
• Your favorite scented candle:Scented candles mimic many odors that attract ants. If it smells like some kind of food, whether sweet or salty, an ant might find it interesting. This is especially true for fruit aromas.
  
• Tu Perfume:You may have the same problem at your desk as you would with an energy drink. Small spills happen. Even if you are finicky, all you need to do in your room is spray yourself with perfume regularly to attract them.
  
• Appetizers: From time to time, we all have a snack in our room in front of the TV or participate in a favorite activity. Be sure to throw away any packages, bags, or cans that may have contained nuts, seeds, or fruit snacks in your room trash.
  
• rotten plants: When plants rot, they can leave an ant smell. Be sure to take care of your plants or look for the silk variety.

If you want to read this in more detail, check out our guide:9 types of odors that attract ants (avoid these odors)

Ants can smell other ants.

Other ants have a scent, a pheromone that other ants smell, and they will follow the tracks of other ants.If you've had a problem recently and have taken preventative measures, don't be discouraged if you see some new ants invading for a short time.

What can I do against ant pheromones?

It's time to investigate again. Take some time to find ant remains in your room. Follow the path and see if it leads to a nest in an area that attracts ants, like B. in your bathroom.

If you have ants in your room and you have a private bathroom, this may be a reason you encounter them.

Ants can come out of your neighbor's house

Sometimes you have to blame the neighbors. Not really, they may just be minding their own bug issues. This means that you can get an exodus of ants and other insects after a neighbor fumigates your house.

The problem shouldn't be permanent or ongoing, but if you get the atmosphere right for the ants, they might think they've hit the jackpot after being rudely evicted from your neighbor's house.

Don't be surprised if you wake up in the morning to a colony of grateful ants bearing gifts!

Your house can be a place of passage for ants

Other than a neighbor from the store, your house may be in the way if there has been construction or a house is being built nearby. You may experience an ant invasion for no apparent reason.

There's a pattern here, if you've noticed. Many outdoor factors lead to an ant invasion in your home. Your room can be the transit station or the last stop on the way to another place.

Clutter in the home can attract ants

Face it, clutter is a magnet for many species of insects. Having papers and shoe or cardboard boxes lying around creates a welcoming place for an ant colony to form, not to mention roaches and more.

Freshly laundered bedding in scented detergent or dryer sheets can also attract pests.

The best way to keep bugs out is to keep extra sheets in plastic bins. Hang or unfold your clothes and store them in drawers. When washing, use a neutral detergent without fragrances.

Summary: why you have ants in your house and what to do about them

Let's summarize here the reasons why you might have ants in your room without food and what you can do to avoid it.

You can have ants in your room because:

• fragrances they love
• Spills and stains from sugary food and drinks
• Perfume spilled or sprayed regularly in the room
• Clothes and sheets washed with scented detergent
• general disorder
• Removal of indoor plants.
• other ants
• exterior construction
• Neighbors have just set up tents or been fighting pests in their home.
• plants that love
• Rotten stumps and dead trees
• pet feeders

Preventive measures to keep ants away:

• Keep your room clean and clutter free.
• Wash clothing and bedding with unscented detergent.
• Take care of your indoor plants or exchange them for silk or plastic.
• Dig a trench around your pet's bowls with an inch of water.
• Throw trash in your room regularly and don't leave empty soda cans, K-cups, or tea bags in your room overnight.
• Do a thorough inspection of the exterior of the property for rotten stumps and dead trees.

Following most of these steps should mitigate the problem if it's not an infestation. It depends on the situation, but most of the time it's nearly impossible to get rid of ants permanently without ongoing, professional pest control.

There is nothing more to say about the ants. They are persistent, hard to track, and harder to attack. In the meantime, if you found these tips helpful, we're glad, but we highly recommend professional pest control.

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