It’s no surprise that it’s cold in December in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. At this point in the year many of us are bundling up and taking shelter indoors preparing for a long winter ahead. Being that we are indoors more during this time of the year, most people are more aware of their surroundings and want to keep pests and rodents out. There are different pests and rodents that enter a home or business throughout all seasons of the year. Ants, one of the most common summer pests, seem to just suddenly disappear when the weather turns colder. Where do ants go in the cold weather?
What Pests and Rodents Should you Still Watch for in the Winter?
Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan are considered to be a cold weather region. Meaning what exactly? Basically, it gets cold. Like really cold here during the winter months. Much like many of us don’t want to go outside and seem to move slower in the blistery cold weather, so do many pests and rodents. While there are still some pests and rodents to watch for in the winter months in Ohio and Michigan, many of the ones that we have become very familiar with in the warmer months of the year seem to just go away.
Bed bugs, spiders, mice, rats, cockroaches, and termites are still very active in the winter months, and tend to move more indoors to escape the outside elements. All of these critters can make their way inside your home or business in search of food, water, and shelter (mostly a warm shelter). Did you notice what pest wasn’t on that list? That’s right, ants. So, where do ants go in cold weather?
Where do Ants go in Cold Weather?
Just because you don’t see ants moving about as much as they do in the warmer months, doesn’t mean they aren’t there. In fact, you may have more ants in your home or business now than you did in the spring and summer.
Ants are cold-blooded, meaning they need warmth to survive. Ants basically wait out the winter season. When cold air arrives, ants’ body temperatures drop dramatically and their movements become sluggish. Ants respond to the cold by seeking out warm places, such as deep soil, under rocks, under the bark of trees, in leave piles, under deep mounds, or inside your home or business. In the fall, ants store up on carbohydrates to help them gain weight and fat to last them throughout the colder months.
At the onset of winter, most ants enter a dormancy period where their bodies adapt to a slower metabolic state called “diapause”. As ants enter diapause, their movements naturally slow down, making them appear sluggish or immobile but still allows them to utilize very little stored energy, as they do not eat, drink, or lay eggs during this period. Ants do not fall into a deep slumber in the winter; instead, they find their way inside or rest several feet deep into the soil where temperatures are more consistent and the elements cannot reach them.
Where do ants go in the cold weather? The answer is: nowhere really different than where they go in the warmer months; however, you may just notice them less in your home or business because they are in diapause. Also, because ants don’t tend to search for food during the colder months, they aren’t moving around as much, so they are noticed much less.
How Can you Keep Ants Out of your Home or Business?
You can keep ants out of our home or business by taking some precautions to try to prevent them. The best solution for ant control is hiring a local pest control company to help you keep out and eliminate ants. Some things you can do on your own include:
- Keeping your home or business clean and food in airtight containers
- Removing wet and rotten wood near your structure
- Sealing all entry points that they may be able to enter through
- Watching for them, and if you see one in your home or business, having the space treated before you have an infestation taking up residence over the winter
Delving Pest Control can help you keep ants away throughout the year. We specialize in discreet pest control in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Contact us today for a free estimate.
