3 tips to track down ants

Noel McCarthy, Staff Writer, Sterifab

Most ant species hibernate outside during the winter. But there are exceptions. Some species will invade a home during the winter — not to survive those long, cold days, per se, but to forage for food. The big problem is finding these pests in the first place. Here are some tips for tracking them down:

• Water is a must for ants, so look in the bathroom, kitchen and anywhere else where moisture can build up, such as along water pipes and indoor drains. Look for leaks, which are practically guaranteed to attract ants.
• If the ants have gotten far enough into the house, look for ant bodies and fragments. These you’ll probably find at their points of ingress, such as from window seal gaps, underneath doors, via the floorboards or other openings.
• If you find frass (wood shavings) during your search, the problem is likely carpenter ants. Basements or attics are good places to look first.

Also keep in mind that you may not, in fact, be dealing with an ant problem. Many customers can’t distinguish between ants and termites, for example.