Like most other insects, ants come into your home looking for food and water.While the ant is searching for food and water, the ant leaves behind a trail of chemicals which are called pheromones. These pheromones allow ants to communicate alarm, other ants in their colony and where a food source may be found. Just how long each ant’s pheromones last depends on the ant species. Long Island is home to 9 different species of ants: acrobat ants, argentine ants, citronella ants, field ants, little black ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants and carpenter ants.
What Attracts Ants
When looking for food, an ant scout searches randomly. Once the food is found, the ant will eat some and then, head right back to the colonies’ nest. The ant will use its internal GPS to take the shortest way home. Once back at the nest, other ants will be recruited to follow the pheromone trail back to the food. Ants will continue to come back until every crumb on your floor is completely eaten.
Scientists have determined that some of these trails can become more or less permanent like ant trails into your garbage can or under your bathroom sink or toothpaste.
Some people claim to have success getting rid of ants by eliminating the pheromone trail. However, a large ant colony continues to send many more scouts out to look for food. Please give us a call to determine what type of ant has invested your home. We will give you a free inspection and discuss a treatment plan. Call today (631) 864-6900 | (516) 864-6900 | (631) 287-6900
