By admin 
Seeing ants in your California kitchen? What about your bathroom or living room?
You might have an ant infestation.
“Ants are among the most prevalent pests” in households across the state, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.
Read more Ants invading your California home? Here’s how to prevent pests from getting in
Know how to prevent ant infestations and how to eliminate them:
Which kinds of ants can be found in California?
Ant species that can be seen in California homes include black ants, pavement ants, sugar ants, fire ants, odorous house ants and carpenter ants.
As their name indicates, odorous house ants give off a strong smell after being killed.
Black ants are small and “generally live outside but will nest indoors,” according to the Western Exterminator Company, an Anaheim-based pest control company serving California and other western states.
Sugar ants can cause tiny piles of debris near cracks in the walls and can be found in the kitchen or pantry.
Fire ants and pavement ants commonly build small piles of dirt near sidewalks, patios or foundations.
Carpenter ants can tunnel through damp or damaged wood and push out sawdust.
Why am I seeing more ants right now?
Warm weather draws out ants.
When temperatures rise, the tiny insects go indoors to cool off and find a source of water, Ky-ko Pest Prevention in Arizona said.
Moisture can attract ants to kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Open food and garbage also attract the six-legged critters.
The bugs are extremely attracted to pet food. Open containers and food bowls provide a steady food source.
How do ants get inside my home?
Ant infestations might start with a few tiny insects crawling near a sink or across a baseboard.
“An ant problem in a house situation rarely stays small, especially in California, where warm weather keeps ants active most of the year,” said Official Pest Prevention, a California pest control company.
Early sightings of ants indoors can mean that colonies are hiding inside walls, under concrete or outside the foundation.
It only takes a few weeks for ant infestations to spread rapidly once the insects find a food supply.
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If you see a trail of ants inside your home, the infestation has already begun.
“Ants do not need much space to get inside,” Official Pest Prevention said.
Gaps in foundations, small crevices in walls and cracks in aging caulk can be easy access points.
Over time, ants can memorize routes to enter the home, experts say.
How can I prevent ants from coming indoors?
Homeowners should take steps to make their homes less attractive to ants, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources said.
Preventative measures include plugging cracks and openings that lead outside, fixing leaky faucets and keeping plants, grass and mulch at least a foot away from a home to reduce ant foraging and nesting.
Trees with sweet food sources such as fruit can be removed or managed.
Food preparation should also be taken into account by using sealed containers for storage instead of plastic bags and open containers.
Crumbs, grease and spills should be cleaned up as garbage should be frequently disposed of and cleaned.
What can I do if ants are already in my home?
According to the pest management program, ants leave behind a scent trail and should be cleaned up with soap and water when the ants enter your home.
Track where the bugs are entering your home and seal the closure with caulk.
If the ants have infested a plant, you can submerge it in insecticidal soap and water outside.
To control an outside ant colony, you can set up bait including stakes, traps and granule shakers.
Some ant baits contain a sugar water solution that can attract the tiny insects. When they bring the food back home, the pesticide can kill the entire colony.
“Pesticide sprays only provide temporary control and may not be safe to use indoors,” the pest management program said.
This story was originally published September 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline “Ants invading your California home? Here’s how to prevent pests from getting in.”
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