Don’t Be Tricked by Pests After Your Treats: Halloween Pest Help
Halloween is a lot of people’s favorite holiday, and for good reason! With it comes cool weather, fun costumes, and lots and lots of candy. But you and your family aren’t the only ones who love candy—regardless of the kind, candy attracts unwanted pests like ants. Keep reading for some Halloween pest help!
Ants & Sweets
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that even bugs can have a sweet tooth. While taste might not be the primary draw, there are lots of reasons ants might prefer sugar or sugary foods over other options.
It Gives Them an Energy Boost
Ants work very hard for the greater good of their colony. So, if there’s something that could give them a boost of energy and help them work more efficiently, they’re going to take it! Researchers actually suspect that ants might get a rush from sugar just like we do. You’ve probably experienced a sugar rush before, so you know what it feels like.
It’s What They’re Used To
Another reason ants might like sugar so much is simply that it’s what they’re accustomed to eating. Our homes are ideal shelters for most pests. Other than potentially being squashed by you, your home is warm, dry, and stocked full of delicious food! And a lot of that food contains sugar. Sugarcane is natural, but processed sugar—which is in so many things we consume—is not. So, essentially, we’ve introduced a delicious substance into ants’ diets and now they can’t get enough!
It’s Easy to Carry
We’ve probably all heard at some point just how strong ants are. They can carry up to 5,000 times their own body weight! But they’re still small and, like we mentioned earlier, always trying to work efficiently. A little crystal of sugar is convenient in size and easy to carry for an ant! Whether it’s straight sugar spilled from the bag or sugar from a piece of candy, it’s a great option.
Halloween Pest Help—Keeping the Ants at Bay
We don’t blame you if you don’t want to share your candy haul with a bunch of ants! Storing your candy in a way that doesn’t attract them is crucial to keeping them out of your home. Ants are incredibly intelligent, meaning that if one of them finds your stash, they’ll communicate its whereabouts to the rest of the colony.
Store your candy—even if it’s wrapped—inside an airtight container, so it can’t be smelled by ants. Another great option is to store it in the fridge! Many people prefer cold or frozen candy anyway, and it’s much more difficult for ants to get into your fridge than into your pantry. And, finally, if you’ve got more candy than you can chew, consider sharing! Have your child bring some to school to share with their friends, or bring some to work to share with your coworkers. The fewer sweet treats you have lying around, the fewer ants you’ll attract.
Still Having Pest Problems?
When it comes to pests, sometimes there’s only so much you can do to keep them away—especially pests like ants, who can communicate to their entire colony just how cozy and delicious your home is! If you’re having persistent pest problems, Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. is here to help. Contact us today to get started!