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By the time November arrives, the last thing you’re thinking about is ants. Those are spring and summer pests, as far as you’re concerned, so from now until March or April, you shouldn't have to worry about them. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly true.
Although ant activity typically slows down in the fall, it doesn’t always stop. In fact, for some (un)lucky homeowners, fall can be the time of year when they discover that ants are a major problem in their house. Learn more about why ants might be in your kitchen this November and what you can do to get rid of them with this guide from the pros at All-American Pest Control.
Why Tennessee Kitchens Become Ant Magnets in Fall
Ants don’t die off in the fall; they simply hunker down for the winter. However, if they can find a warm place to live with a lasting food supply, they won’t have to hunker down at all. They can stay active throughout the fall and winter in a climate-controlled environment such as your house.
Why do Tennessee kitchens become ant magnets in the fall? For one thing, they provide the consistent warmth that ants are looking for at this time of year. During cold snaps, ants often move to heated spaces. If they find what they need for shelter and food, they’ll stick around.
While the cold weather is a draw for ants, the fact that November tends to be fairly mild is another reason why you might see ants at this time of year. Tennessee’s extended falls allow ants to remain active longer into the season, giving them more opportunities to find their way into your house while foraging for food. Since food supplies are harder to find outside at this time of year, ants will be happy to find a good food supply in your kitchen.
Food Sources That Draw Ants to Your Kitchen
Ants are attracted to a wider variety of foods than you might expect. We all picture ants as sugar-loving pests, and they are, but they also love protein-rich and fatty foods. Oftentimes, the particular species of ant, along with the time of year, their current needs, and other factors, contribute to which foods they’re most attracted to. What’s important to realize is that simply covering up your sugar bowl isn’t enough to stop an ant infestation.
Ants can be attracted to spills, crumbs, and unwashed dishes. They’ll happily eat crumbs from pet food bowls, overripe fruit on your counter, and anything they can find in your trash cans.
Hidden Food Sources You Might Miss
There are a lot of places in your kitchen that can provide food for ants that you would never think about. Many spaces that collect crumbs, spills, and grease go unnoticed. These spaces include:
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Behind stoves
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Under appliances
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On cabinet handles
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The edges of countertops
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Inside toasters
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The underside of your oven vent
Water Access Keeps Ants Coming Back
It’s not just food and water that attract ants. Although those might be the two things that initially bring them into your house, easy access to water is essential in making them stick around. Look around your kitchen and bathrooms to see if you have any:
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Dripping faucets
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Leaky pipes
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Wet sponges
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Standing water in dish racks or sinks
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Condensation under sinks, on pipes, or on windows
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Open pet water dishes
Entry Points That Let Ants Into Your Kitchen
How do ants get indoors in the first place? Their small size makes it extremely easy for them to exploit even the tiniest cracks. Ants often get inside through:
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Gaps around pipes, utility lines, and electrical outlets
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Worn weatherstripping on doors and windows
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Foundation cracks near the kitchen walls
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Open windows or doors
Kitchen Habits That Invite Ant Infestations
Oftentimes, homeowners’ kitchen habits inadvertently invite ants inside. If you do any of the following, you may be inviting an ant infestation.
- Leaving dirty dishes out overnight gives ants hours to establish trails.
- Storing flour, sugar, and grains in torn or easy-to-access paper bags invites pantry invasions.
- Wiping counters without proper cleaning solutions leaves scent trails behind.
- Storing fruit and other foods out in the open on your counter is like cooking a feast for hungry ants.
Why November Makes Kitchen Ant Problems Worse
There is no good time to have ants in your kitchen, but there is a case to be made that November is a terrible month to end up with ants. November marks the beginning of the holiday season. Whether you host guests over Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas or not, there’s a good chance that your food preparations increase at this time of year.
With an increase in food prep comes an increase in spills, crumbs, food residue, messes, and trash. All of these things mean that ants will be all the happier to invade and stick around. Although it takes more work and more time to clean up when you’re doing a lot of cooking and baking, you must make an effort to eliminate the things that might attract hungry ants.
Types of Ants Found in Tennessee Kitchens
Tennessee has a lot of ant species, but only a handful are common in homes. These are the ones you’re most likely to see this November:
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Odorous house ants leave trails to food sources on countertops, alerting other ants where to go.
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Argentine ants form supercolonies that spread rapidly through kitchen spaces.
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Pharaoh ants nest inside walls and cabinets near consistent heat sources.
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Carpenter ants build tunnels in wood, weakening support structures in your house over time.
Quick Steps to Remove Ants From Your Kitchen
If you find ants in your kitchen, simply getting rid of the ones you see won’t solve your problem. However, we understand that you want a quick fix while you wait for the pros at All-American Pest Control to take care of the problem at its root. We recommend:
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Wiping down all surfaces with a vinegar solution to erase scent trails
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Vacuuming thoroughly around baseboards and under appliances to remove stragglers
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Sealing pantry items in glass or plastic containers to eliminate food access
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Washing dishes and taking out the trash to remove other food remnants
Professional Kitchen Ant Control That Works
Although removing the ants you see will offer temporary relief, you need a more permanent solution to your ant problem. That’s where All-American Pest Control comes in. We offer targeted ant control treatments that are designed for your unique infestation. We start by inspecting your home to identify species, entry points, nesting sites, and more. We then use this information to design a treatment plan specifically for your needs.
Our perimeter home pest control is also designed to protect your home from new infestations. We create a protective barrier around your house to stop ants and other pests before they get inside. Imagine being able to spend your holidays focused on what matters instead of on worrying about a pest infestation.
Contact All-American for Effective Ant Control This November
If you’re seeing ants in your kitchen or if you want to make sure you don’t, contact All-American Pest Control. We have the solution to your ant problem. With year-round services to protect your home from pest threats now and through each season, All-American Pest Control is here to help, no matter your pest problems. We also offer green pest control options. Contact us to learn more or to schedule your ant inspection.
Comprehensive Pest Control Solutions in Nashville, TN & Nearby Areas
Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.
We proudly serve: Brentwood, Centerville, Fairview, Thompson’s Station, Arrington, Leiper’s Fork, Windstone, Westhaven, McKay’s Mill, Ladd Park, Rizer Point, Silver Stream, Annandale, Canterbury, Governors Club, Avalon, LaurelBrooke, Belle Vista, Lockwood Glen, Lookaway Farms, Maplewood, McLemore Farms, Meadowview Estates, College Grove, Franklin, Nolensville, Primm Springs, as well as the entire Williamson County and Greater Nashville areas.
For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.