Ask the Bug Doc: ants in early spring

Q: It’s early spring and I am seeing a few ants in my home. Shouldn’t they be hibernating?

A: During winter and early spring, ants enter a dormant state, feeding off carbohydrates and proteins collected during late summer and fall. These resources will provide enough food for the colony to survive until spring. However, if the warming effects of the sun prematurely awaken ants from their dormant state, the scouts will instinctively begin foraging for food, despite the cold climates in early spring.

When it’s too cold to forage outside, the scouts will investigate inside. Once a scout locates a food source, they will leave a pheromone trail for more scouts to follow, which is what you are most likely witnessing in your home.

In order to prevent an ant infestation, caulking the smallest cracks and crevices as well as removing any potential food sources will help to keep these unwanted pests outside where they belong.

For help with ant control, contact us online or call 888 984 0186 to speak to one of our pest control experts.