Halloween is many people’s favorite holiday, and for good reason! With that 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 relief!
Ants & Sweets
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that even bugs can have a sweet tooth. While taste may not be the primary attraction, there are many reasons why ants prefer sugar or sweet 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 can give them a boost of energy and help them work more efficiently, they’re going to take it! Researchers actually suspect that ants can get a sugar rush just like us. You’ve probably experienced a sugar rush before, so you know what it feels like.
This is what they are used to
Another reason why ants like sugar so much is simply that it is what they are used to eating. We houses are ideal shelters for most pests. Besides possibly being squashed by you, your house is warm, dry and full of delicious food! And many of those foods contain sugar. Sugar cane is natural, but processed sugar – which is in so many things we consume – is not. So, essentially, we introduced a delicious substance into ants’ diet and now they can’t get enough!
It is easy to carry
We’ve probably all heard at some point how strong ants are. They can carry up to 5,000 times their own body weight! But they are still small and, as we mentioned earlier, they always try to work efficiently. A little crystal sugar is convenient in size and easy to carry for an ant! Whether it’s straight sugar spilled out of the bag or sugar from a piece of candy, it’s a great option.
Halloween Pest Relief—Keep the ants at bay
We don’t blame you if you don’t want to share your candy with a bunch of ants! Storing your candy in a way that doesn’t attract them is essential to keeping them out of your home. Ants are incredibly intelligent, which means that if one of them finds your supply, they will communicate their whereabouts to the rest of the colony.
Store your candy—even if it’s wrapped—in an airtight container, so ants can’t smell it. Another good option is to store it in the fridge! Many people prefer cold or frozen candy anyway, and it’s much harder for ants to get into your fridge than your pantry. And finally, if you have 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 colleagues. The less treats you have lying around, the less ants you will 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 how cozy and nice your home is! If you have persistent pest problems, Vulcan Termite & Pest Control Inc. here to help. Contact us today to start!