While the summer monsoon season does offer the relief of reprieve from the sweltering heat, it also enables unwanted guests to move right into your kitchen. After rainfalls, small trails of ants are seen on the countertops, at the sink, and near areas where food is stored.
These seasonal migrations to the highlands are especially troublesome in a desert climate, where Phoenix is located. A spotless kitchen will suddenly turn into an avenue for these little creatures to look for shelter and food. This is not just a coincidence, but the survival instinct of these pests leads them directly to your house. Highlighting the importance of ant control in Phoenix for everyone.Â
Why Do Ants Love to Fly To Your Kitchen After Rain?
Each rainstorm starts a biological reaction in Phoenix ant colonies that causes them to look for higher ground and a dependable food supply. The kitchen provides everything these homeless colonies require: shelter, moisture, and a food source.
Phoenix gets an average of only 8.03 inches of rain a year, mainly during the monsoon season from July through September. The resulting spotty rainfall is perfect for moving ants across the Valley. The immediate shift in moisture saturation sends ants fleeing their established colonies into the nearest structures, and they have a particular affinity for kitchens with their bountiful food sources.
How to Prevent This From Happening?
1. Seal Entry Points Immediately
Check your kitchen for: minor cracks at windows, doors, and tree penetrations. Because ants can fit through spaces as narrow as 1/16 inch, sealing every possible entry point is vital to effective control.
2. Eliminate Moisture Sources
Repair dripping taps, dry out surrounding wet areas, and keep sink spaces well ventilated. Having water sources is essential since ants do get displaced from their natural habitats in rainstorms.
3. Store Food in Airtight Containers
Put a cap on it for sugar, cereals, pet food, etc. A single crumb can lure an entire colony of ants, which is why keeping storage spaces impeccably clean becomes necessary.
4. Clean Surfaces Thoroughly
Clean countertops with vinegar-based cleaners to eliminate scent trails that can help other ants find food. Pay special attention to places around appliances where grease and food particles tend to get stuck.
5. Remove Outdoor Attractants
Cut back trees and shrubs outside your exterior walls and remove any standing water. Rain events create conditions for ants to advance indoors, and due to Phoenix’s landscaping, the two worlds tend to meet as bridges are made.
When You May Need Professional Intervention
DIY ant control methods may offer short-term relief, but they do not target the root colonies’ structures, ultimately bringing these infestations back to square one. Ready-made baits and sprays work to kill ants, you see, not any workers and queen reproductive ants hidden somewhere in nest places. This creates an ongoing cycle of infestations that can ultimately only be eradicated with professional-grade treatments.
Now, professional pest control specialists know the types of ants in Phoenix and how they behave seasonally. They can pinpoint entry points, find hidden nests, and provide targeted treatment that not only kills all visible workers but also removes a whole colony. Pest control services, such as Green Mango Pest Control, provide extensive knowledge of desert ant biology and tried-and-true treatment protocols that are a step above the basics in stopping an instant crisis and preventing future issues.
The Valley weather makes seasonal infestations a certainty, so it is more effective to actively prep your kitchen before the storms blow through than to try to treat reactively. Professional pest control goes a step further, eliminating entire colonies and preventing future infestations in your home!
