Why am I still getting ants in the house in the winter? Ann M. Rocklin
Ants may suddenly enter buildings to seek food, water, warmth and shelter. Environmental influences that can force an entire colony to move include flooding, lack of food, hot, cold or dry weather. The latest cold snap may have caused your ants to look inside for a cozy home for the holidays.
Ants any time of year can be a tricky problem. The best approach is with integrated pest management. Using the least environmentally disruptive control and still be effective and economical while protecting human health is the goal. Three methods are used.
First, habitat destruction is important. Follow the trail of the ants to find the nest. You may also be able to find just where the ants are coming in. Removing vegetation can disrupt the trail. Sealing all holes or cracks will also prevent entry.
Mechanical methods are the next step. Traps, screens and barriers help prevent or exclude ants. Chemical methods are the last defense. Baits, contact sprays and repellents can be used after the other procedures have been tried.
Baits contain an attractant, food and a delayed toxin. This allows the ant to carry the food back to the nest and spread the poison throughout the colony.
A barrier is a band of insecticide applied around the outside perimeter of a structure that prevents ants from crossing it.
Integrated pest management may seem labor and time intensive, but remember the goal is protecting human health as well as removing the pests by the least environmentally disruptive methods possible.
Reference: Master Gardener Handbook
More information on ants can be obtained from University of California Cooperative Extension Web site http://cooperativeextension@ucdavis.edu, call the Master Gardener office at (530) 889-7385 or visit http://ceplacernevada@ucdavis.edu

The Master Gardener office address is UCCE - Placer County DeWitt Center, 11477 E Ave. (Bldg. 306), Auburn, CA 95603
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