Why You’re Seeing More Ants This Summer
Summer is the season for cookouts, backyard fun, and, unfortunately, ants. If you’ve noticed more ants than usual marching through your kitchen or crawling around your home’s exterior, you’re not alone. At Advanced Pest Solutions, we get lots of calls this time of year from homeowners wondering why ants seem to invade more during the summer months.
Here’s what’s going on — and what you can do about it.
What Attracts Ants in Summer?
In Maine, ants aren’t active outdoors all year round. Because of our cold winters, ants spend the chilly months tucked away deep inside their nests or finding cozy spots inside homes where it’s warm. You probably won’t see them wandering outside from late fall through early spring.
But once spring arrives and temperatures rise, ants become much more active. Summer, in particular, offers the perfect conditions for ants to search for food, build their colonies, and sometimes sneak indoors.
Some of the main reasons you’re seeing more ants this summer include:
Warm weather: Maine’s summer warmth encourages ants to forage and expand their nests.
Food sources: Outdoor meals, uncovered snacks, and pet food can attract ants near your home.
Moisture: Sprinklers, rain, and leaks provide the water ants need to survive.
Nesting sites: Cracks in foundations, gaps around windows and doors, and piles of wood or leaves offer ideal nesting spots.
Ants You’re Likely to See Around Your Property this Summer
Depending on where you live, you might encounter different types of ants during the summer:
Pavement ants: Often nesting under sidewalks, driveways, or patios, these ants can form large colonies.
Odorous house ants: Known for the sweet, rotten-coconut smell they release when crushed, they commonly invade kitchens.
Carpenter ants: Larger ants that prefer moist or decaying wood and can sometimes cause structural damage.
European fire ants: Aggressive ants that can sting and often nest in soil or under debris near homes.
Acrobat ants: Small ants that raise their abdomens over their backs like acrobats when disturbed.
Pharaoh ants: Tiny, light yellow to red ants that can infest buildings and are tricky to control.
Each species has slightly different behaviors, but all can become a nuisance when they invade your living space.
How to Keep Ants Out This Summer
You don’t have to share your home with ants all summer long. Here are some simple tips to reduce their presence:
Seal entry points: Check for cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and foundations, and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
Clean up food: Keep countertops, floors, and outdoor eating areas free of crumbs and spills. Store food in airtight containers.
Limit moisture: Fix leaks promptly and avoid overwatering plants or lawns near your home’s foundation.
Remove attractants: Don’t leave pet food out overnight, and keep garbage cans sealed.
Trim vegetation: Keep bushes and tree branches trimmed away from your home to reduce ant pathways.
When to Call the Ant Control Pros
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, ants find their way inside. If you’re dealing with a persistent ant problem or suspect carpenter ants are causing damage, it’s time to call in the experts at Advanced Pest Solutions.
Serving Belgrade, Skowhegan, Rockport, and communities throughout Central and Coastal Maine, our trained technicians can identify the ant species invading your home and customize a treatment plan to eliminate them safely and effectively. Plus, ongoing pest control services can help prevent ants and other pests from becoming a problem all year long!
Enjoy a pest-free summer; if ants are crashing your summer plans, contact Advanced Pest Solutions for assistance!