Summers in Missouri are known for extreme heat and high humidity. While we are busy enjoying backyard barbecues, tiny invaders are busy looking for a way into our homes.
Ants are one of the most common sights in Missouri kitchens once the temperature starts to climb. They do not just show up to be a nuisance. They are usually on a desperate mission for survival.
When the weather outside becomes too extreme, your air-conditioned home looks like a perfect paradise. Managing these summer invasions can be a big job for any homeowner.
Reliable Pest Solutions offers the local expertise needed to stop these scouts before they invite the whole colony into your pantry.
The Search for Water in the Missouri Heat
One of the primary reasons ants enter homes during a Missouri summer is a lack of water. Our state often experiences dry spells in which the ground becomes cracked and hard. When soil moisture disappears, ant colonies seek new water sources to survive.
Your kitchen sink and the drip tray under your refrigerator become prime targets. They even go after pet water bowls. Ants can smell moisture from a long way off.
Once a few scout ants find water inside your house, they leave a scent trail for others to follow. Keeping your counters dry and fixing leaky faucets is the first step in making your kitchen less attractive.
Escaping Heavy Summer Downpours
While dry weather is a problem, heavy Missouri thunderstorms can also drive ants inside. When we experience heavy summer downpours, the ground becomes saturated quickly. This flooding often destroys the underground tunnels where ants live.
To avoid drowning, the whole colony will scramble for higher ground. This often leads them right up your foundation and through tiny cracks in your siding. Your home provides a high, dry shelter where they can wait out the storm.
Once they are inside, they realize how much food is available. They often decide to stay long after the rain has stopped and the sun has come back out.
The Endless Buffet in Your Pantry
Summer is a busy time for ants because they are trying to store food. They are drawn to sugars and proteins, which are everywhere in a typical Missouri kitchen. A small spill of soda or a few bread crumbs might not seem like much to you.
However, it is a massive feast for an ant colony. During the summer, ants are more aggressive in their search for food to support their growing numbers. Even sealed boxes of cereal or crackers are not always safe.
Ants are small enough to find their way into almost any packaging that is not airtight. Keeping your food in plastic or glass containers with tight lids can help reduce exposure.
How to Block Their Entry Points
To maintain the ant-free status of your house in Missouri, crawl on your premises like a pest. Soil shifting in the area usually results in foundation cracks that serve as access points.
Make sure you close the gaps around the windows and re-stretch the worn-out weather stripping of the doors.
Also, cut bushes and tree branches near the house, as they provide an avenue for ants to reach ground level and penetrate your walls or roof.
In most cases, professional intervention may be needed, as ant colonies can include thousands of members.
Although DIY sprays are effective against visible ants, the rest of the colony will remain resistant and remain within your walls, causing recurring infestations.
Reliable Pest Solutions is familiar with the ant species in Missouri and their habits. Their professionals are able to find concealed nests and develop a professional fence around your house.
This all-inclusive solution will be a permanent solution that can never be compared with store-bought items, as your kitchen will be safeguarded during the summer.
