Moisture ants are a type of ant that thrives in damp environments, feeding on sweet substances and honeydew produced by aphids. These ants are often mistaken for carpenter ants due to their similar appearance, but they can be identified by their yellowish-brown color and translucent abdomen. Moisture ants are particularly attracted to areas with high humidity and moisture, making them a common pest in homes and buildings, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Their preference for damp environments means they are frequently found in places like basements, crawl spaces, and areas with water-damaged wood.
Moisture ants can be a frustrating pest to deal with. As their name suggests they thrive in damp areas and are attracted to moisture. If you have an infestation in your home getting rid of moisture ants requires some persistence and diligence. However, with the right approach you can eliminate them for good. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover how to identify moisture ants, why they are problematic, and most importantly provide tips to get rid of them using both chemical and natural methods.
What Are Moisture Ants?
Moisture ants belong to the genus Lasius and are small ants at around 1/16 to 1/8 inches long. They can be identified by their yellowish-brown coloring and translucent abdomen. As the name suggests, they prefer nesting in damp areas such as wet soil, rotting wood, leaky plumbing, and other moist environments in and around your home.
While moisture ants do not pose a danger through biting or stinging, they can become a significant nuisance pest with their sheer numbers. Seeing trails of them in your home is a clear sign you have an active infestation that needs addressing.
Signs of Moisture Ants
Here are the most common signs of a moisture ant infestation
- Visible ants trailing through your home, especially in kitchens and bathrooms
- Frothy or bubbly secretions seeping from cracks in walls, baseboards or around pipes
- Ants gathering around sources of moisture like sinks or plumbing fixtures
- Flying ants around windows, indicating a nest may be indoors near the light
- Tunnels or holes in water damaged wood
- Small dirt mounds around the exterior of your home
Why Are Moisture Ants Problematic?
A moisture ant infestation can quickly become a major nuisance in your home. Here are some of the reasons these pests can be so problematic:
- Large colonies numbering in the thousands can form rapidly
- They contaminate food sources and spread bacteria
- Tunneling in water damaged wood causes further structural deterioration
- Indicate plumbing leaks or other moisture issues in the home
- Difficult to fully eradicate without addressing the underlying moisture sources attracting them
How To Get Rid Of Moisture Ants
Getting rid of moisture ants requires a multi-pronged approach combining both chemical and non-chemical methods:
Identify and Eliminate Moisture Sources
The first critical step is finding and fixing any moisture sources like leaky pipes, rainwater incursion, wet wood, etc. This takes away the attraction for ants to nest. Look for areas where you see bubbling paint or rotting wood as likely culprits.
Apply Residual Sprays and Dusts
Apply longer lasting residual sprays and dusts into known ant nesting areas and entry points into your home. This provides ongoing protection by killing ants on contact for weeks or months. Products containing ingredients like lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin or boric acid work well. Focus applications along baseboards, window sills, and other access areas.
Use Ant Baits
Ant baits containing boric acid, fipronil or abamectin work well on moisture ants. Place them along trails and nesting sites. Foraging worker ants take the bait back to the nest to slowly poison the entire colony including the queen. Liquid baits are most attractive to these sweet-loving ants.
Make Your Home Less Appealing
Practice good sanitation by cleaning up spills, storing food properly, taking out trash regularly, and fixing any plumbing issues or water damaged wood. This removes food sources and nesting sites to deter ants. Caulk cracks and seal entry points.
Try Natural Repellents
Natural options like diatomaceous earth, powdered cinnamon and peppermint oil can also help repel ants. However they require diligent ongoing applications.
Focus Efforts Outdoors
Locate and treat outdoor nesting sites using residual sprays, baiting, or mound drenches for the most effective control. This stops ants from coming inside. Landscaping improvements to reduce moisture around the home’s perimeter also helps.
Prevention Tips To Avoid Future Infestations
- Fix moisture issues and leaks
- Seal cracks and openings
- Store food in sealed containers
- Clean up crumbs and spills promptly
- Replace water damaged wood
- Ensure proper drainage around home’s exterior
- Keep plants and mulch away from foundation
- Stack firewood and debris far from house
Getting rid of moisture ants takes vigilance. But by implementing a targeted treatment plan along with prevention measures focused on moisture control, you can kick your ant problem for good. Just remember moisture ants need moisture, so take that away and they won’t stand a chance in your home.
Moisture Ant Identification and Habitat
Moisture ants get their name from their love of living in damp humid environments. Often homeowners become aware that they have a moisture ant infestation during a remodel as these ants love to live in damp humid spots behind walls, or by finding a frothy like substance that is being pushed out between wall seams.
Moisture ants are common here in Oregon and Washington due to our abundance of moisture and our relatively temperate climate which creates moisture and humid rich environments for these ants to thrive in. Outdoors, moisture ants prefer moisture rich soil and rotting damp wood. Moisture ant colonies often nest in wet wood, which provides the damp environment they need to thrive. It is also not uncommon for these ants to build colonies next to home foundations, which can introduce these pests to your home leading to infestations if your home has too much humidity or has rotted moist wood. These moisture ant colonies can be particularly problematic if they establish themselves in wet wood within the structure of your home.
Dangers of Moisture Ants
While moisture ants themselves are not dangerous, their presence can indicate potentially damaging moisture issues in your property. These ants can infest wet, water-damaged wood, and their tunneling can cause wood to decay at a faster rate, leading to structural damage. The presence of moisture ants can also be a sign of other problems, such as plumbing leaks or infestations by other wood-damaging pests like carpenter ants or termites. Addressing the underlying moisture issues is crucial to prevent further damage and potential infestations.
How To Get Rid of Ants in Grass Naturally
FAQ
How do you get rid of moisture ants?
Keep wet and loose soil, mulch, grass, and other debris away from the foundation and exterior of your home. Immediately identify and replace any rotting or moist wood to keep the ants from nesting there. Seal off any cracks or openings through which the ant may enter with caulking, urethane foam, or lumber.
What is the best bait for moisture ants?
Advion Ant Bait Gel ( Top Recommendation) (for many types of ants feeding on sugar or looking for moisture-highly attractive) Advion Ant Bait Gel maintains its integrity for a long period of time, killing the entire colony.
Where do moisture ants come from?
How did I get moisture ants? These ants thrive in damp environments and are attracted to wood that is decayed or damaged by moisture. Wood near bathtubs and areas damaged by water from plumbing leaks are popular nesting sites.
What is the fastest way to kill an ant colony?
Simply boil a kettle of water, locate the ant hill, and pour it right over the top. The water will gradually trickle through the entire maze of tunnels and flood the colony; the heat of the water will be enough to eliminate any ants that come into contact with it.
How do you treat a moisture ant problem?
Apply an antibiotic ointment and apply ice to the affected area. When bitten by a pest, always remember to properly identify the culprit so that the best remedy can be used. The first thing to do when seeking to control a Moisture ant problem is to locate any sources of moisture in your home.
Are moisture ants a problem?
Moisture ants can be a pesky problem, especially if you live in a humid area. These tiny invaders thrive in damp environments, often making their way into your home and causing damage to wood and insulation. But don’t worry, you can tackle this issue head-on with a few strategic steps.
What is a moisture ant?
Moisture ant is the common name for several different species, most of which belong to the Lasius genus. What they have in common is a preference for nesting in areas of high moisture, such as wet soil and water-damaged wood. Moisture ants are found throughout the United States and around the world.
How do I stop ants from coming into my home?
1. Seal cracks around entryways. Ants can make their way into your home through the tiniest of cracks. That’s why it’s so important to properly inspect all entryways around your home, especially when you’ve noticed ants inside. “You can reduce ant activity by checking for holes and gaps around the house.
Can ant bait kill moisture ants?
Ant bait can be extremely effective against moisture ants, especially when you use a liquid bait that is highly attractive to them. However, the downside of ant bait is that it can be messy. The answer to this problem is to use ant bait stations.
Why do ants come inside after rain?
Because they like to feed on the honeydew produced by aphids, they often come inside after rain washes away this important food source. Moisture ants are capable of nesting inside homes, and will naturally gravitate towards areas of high humidity.