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Quick Answers
Ants in walls or homes can be caused by a few main reasons:
- Looking for food – Ants enter homes looking for food sources like sweet liquids, grease, meats, grains, fruits.
- Establishing nests – Structural cracks or voids in walls provide ideal dark, hollow spaces for ants to build nests.
- Access to water – Ants may find moisture in walls from leaks, condensation, or other sources.
- Searching for warmth – Ants enter walls in colder months looking for warmer shelter.
Some common ant species that invade homes include carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, pavement ants, sugar ants, odorous house ants, and Argentine ants. Ants enter through small cracks in foundations, walls, doors, windows, and roofs.
Identifying Ants in Your Home
If you suspect ants are living in your walls, look for these signs:
– Small black or reddish ants marching in lines along walls, floors, or countertops
– Little piles of coarse sawdust indicating carpenter ants chewing through wood
– Wings and other ant body parts found around windows, doors, or wall voids
– A faint rustling noise coming from inside voids in walls, floors, or ceilings
– Cracked or bubbled paint, wallpaper, sheetrock indicating hollow areas behind
Take note of what the ants look like – their colors, sizes, and behaviors. Capture a sample ant in a jar if needed for identification. There are over 700 ant species in the US, but only a handful are common household pests. Proper identification helps determine nest location and the best control methods.
Common House-Invading Ant Identification
| Ant Species | Appearance | Behaviors |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter Ants | Large black ants, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch long | Excavate and nest in wood; cause structural damage |
| Pharaoh Ants | Tiny yellow or light brown ants, 1/16 inch long | Nest in wall voids and difficult places; trail constantly for food |
| Pavement Ants | Small black ants with pale legs, 1/8 inch long | Nest outdoors but trail indoors for food; bite defensively |
| Odorous House Ants | Medium-sized black ants, 1/8 inch long; smell like rotten coconuts if crushed | Nest in wall voids, under objects; enter structures for food |
| Argentine Ants | Tiny brown ants, 1/16 inch long | Trail constantly for sweets and proteins; nest in hidden crevices near moisture |
This table shows descriptions of the most common ant species found inside homes and walls, including their size, color, and nesting behaviors. Properly identifying the ants will determine if they are nesting inside the walls or just trailing through in search of food.
Why Ants Enter and Nest in Walls
Ants build nests inside wall voids, cracks, and spaces for several key reasons:
Access to Food
Many household ant species do not actually nest inside structures, but enter walls or homes searching for food. Sweet liquids, greasy foods, pet foods, fruits, vegetables, and pantry items attract these foraging ants. Common trailing ant pests include Argentine ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, and pharaoh ants. Proper sanitation and sealing cracks shuts ants out.
Shelter and Nesting Sites
The hollow spaces, cracks, and voids inside walls provide perfect dark, secluded areas for certain ants to establish nests. Carpenter ants chew through wood to make smooth galleries for nests. Other ants look for existing cracks and holes. Firewood, foam insulation, electrical wires, and plumbing spaces often contain ant nests. Nest relocation is sometimes necessary.
Moisture
Ant nests require moisture to thrive. Leaky pipes, high humidity, condensation, damp wood, and soil contact can lead to wet conditions in wall voids. The larvae and queens need adequate moisture levels to survive. Water damage repair and moisture control helps dry out nesting sites. Proper drainage and ventilation discourages ants.
Warmth
Ants and their larvae cannot survive freezing temperatures. During cold winters, many ant colonies move nests closer to the warmth of buildings and homes. Wall voids near heat sources like appliances, chimneys, and light fixtures provide insulation and warmth ants need. Sealing up exterior entry points helps prevent ants coming inside only for warmth.
Damage and Health Risks of Ants Nesting in Walls
While ants themselves pose little medical threat, their presence inside walls and homes causes many problems:
Structural Damage
Carpenter ants excavate moist wood to build nest galleries, severely compromising structures over time. They can damage wall framing, floors, ceilings, insulation, and wood trim. Other ants can slowly erode mortar and widen cracks around bricks or concrete.
Electrical and Fire Hazards
Chewing through wires, ants increase risk of short circuits and electrical fires. Fire ants have been known to infest switch boxes, circuit breakers, and other electrical equipment. Their large nests are flammable.
Allergies and Asthma
Ants do not directly cause allergic reactions. However, their presence increases exposure to urticating hairs, waste particles, and other allergens from nest debris in walls or air ducts. This worsens allergies and asthma symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Other Pests
Antscompete for their preferred food sources. Eliminating ants allows other pests like cockroaches, spiders, mice, and flies to increase activity. Ants also carry diseases, parasites, and pathogens harmful to humans.
Nuisance and Stress
No one wants ants invading their home and damaging their walls. The risk of property damage, health hazards, and nuisance factor cause great stress. Many people report anxiety, loss of sleep, and discomfort from living with ants.
Inspecting for Ant Nests
Take time to thoroughly inspect the interior and exterior of your home for signs of where ants are entering and nesting. Look along the foundation, walls, ceilings, attic, and around plumbing or electrical fixtures.
Warning Signs of Ant Nests Inside Walls
- Crumbling drywall or plaster
- Hollow sounds when tapping on walls
- Mud tubes running up exterior walls
- Buckled floors or sagging walls
- Painted-over cracks along trim or walls
- Sawdust piles near wood trim or frames
- Sounds of scurrying ants inside voids
Also inspect outdoors for ant trails leading to the house, around the foundation, and near entry points. Follow ant trails carefully to pinpoint nest locations. This aids pest control treatment plans. Calling a professional home inspector can help uncover hidden nesting areas.
Tools for Inspecting Inside Walls
- Flashlight – Shine inside wall cracks and voids
- Outlet tester – Detect high electrical resistance from ants
- Moisture meter – Find areas of excess moisture ants require
- Stethoscope or phone – Listen for movement sounds
- Hammer – Tap on walls to detect hollow areas
- Inspection camera – Insert into holes to see inside walls
Thorough inspections help locate all areas ants have invaded. Completely eradicating ants requires finding and treating every nest site. Missed nests lead to recurring infestations. Writing down areas of concern helps pest management professionals.
How To Get Rid of Ants Nesting in Walls
Getting rid of ants living inside your home’s walls involves:
1. Proper identification – Know what kind of ants you are dealing with.
2. Inspection – Find all entry points and nest locations.
3. Sanitation – Clean up food sources attracting ants indoors.
4. Sealing – Caulk and seal all possible entryways into the home.
5. Treatment – Apply specialized ant pesticide baits, dusts, or sprays.
6. Structural repairs – Fix leaky plumbing, cracks, and holes.
Combining these methods gives the best chance of completely eliminating ants from your walls:
Professional Pest Control
Hire a qualified exterminator for severe infestations or nests inside walls. They have the expertise and tools to:
– Pinpoint hidden nest locations
– Identify species to target treatments
– Apply the proper insecticides safely
– Reach voids requiring wall drilling or removal
Getting a professional inspection and estimate first is recommended. Advanced pest control techniques like thermal treatments for walls may be needed for stubborn infestations.
Improved Sanitation and Cleanliness
Keep counters, floors, and surfaces clean of food spills and residue. Store food containers in sealed plastic or glass. Pick ripe fruits and vegetables daily. Fix leaks and moisture issues. This removes food sources encouraging ants to enter and nest. Starving them out helps destroy colonies.
Insecticidal Ant Baits
Use ant bait stations and gels near nest location entry points. Worker ants take the baits back to feed the queens, spreading the insecticide throughout the colony. They are more effective than sprays. Continue applying baits until ant trails disappear.
Seal Possible Entry Points
Caulk, seal, and weatherstrip around doors, windows, pipes, vents, and cracks. This prevents outdoor ant colonies from entering and nesting in your home. Pest foam or copper mesh can also block entryways permanently when installed correctly.
Target Nests Directly
For accessible wall voids, directly spray or dust insecticides labeled for ants into openings. Remove sections of drywall for hidden nests within walls carefully. Fogging interior wall spaces with professional products kills ants inside nest galleries.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth inside wall voids and entry points. The fine powder absorbs oils and damages the exoskeleton of ants. Although safe for humans, wear a mask when applying.
Preventing Future Ants in Walls
Finally, take preventive measures to discourage future ant nest establishment inside your home:
- Eliminate moisture issues – Fix leaky pipes, clean gutters, improve drainage
- Install vapor barriers and fans – Reduce humidity and moisture condensation
- Caulk and seal walls – Especially openings, cracks around bricks, mortar, pipes, wires
- Weatherstrip doors and windows – Tightly seal all exterior entry points
- Keep trees, bushes, and plants trimmed – Avoid contact with exterior walls
- Store firewood away from home – Off the ground and covered
- Maintain good sanitation – Clean foods spills quickly, store food in sealed containers
Routine pest control inspections also help catch issues early before ants get established. Be vigilant and address ant trails or nests promptly. Prevent ingress routes for long term pest management. With diligence and persistence, you can get rid of ants nesting in walls and keep them out for good.
Conclusion
Ants frequently invade homes and build nests within wall voids. Identifying the ant species determines if they are nesting or just trailing through in search of food. Regardless, ants inside walls cause damage and nuisance issues. Carefully inspect to find entry points, nest locations, moisture sources, and other attractants. Combining sanitation, sealing cracks, targeted insecticide applications, moisture control, and exclusion techniques helps safely eliminate ants from walls. With preventative pest management, ants can be kept out of walls permanently for peace of mind.