Signs of an Ant Infestation in Your Home (The Short Answer)

Ants may be tiny, but they leave behind several signs when they settle in your home. These signs include:

• Pheromone trails. You can’t see the trails themselves, but ants will follow them in a line. If you spot several ants following a trail, a nest is almost certainly nearby.
• Ant nests. These can be hidden just about anywhere and are a sure sign that ants have moved in.
• Ant droppings. They are extremely hard to see, but may show up as tiny black spots.
• Ants in food. You could find live or dead ants in pantry foods such as flour, sugar, and cereals.

Risks Posed by Ants

Ants should always be dealt with quickly, since they can cause a lot of damage to your home. This damage can include:

• Property damage. Carpenter ants can cause structural damage when they chew through wood.
• Electrical hazards. If they cause enough damage inside the structure, they can even damage electrical wires.
• Food contamination. While ants aren’t known to carry disease to people, they can still contaminate food with the bacteria they pick up on their bodies.

Concerned about an ant infestation on your property? Check out our full article for more information on how to spot an ant infestation.