While the Spring season often yields vacations, backyard BBQs, and family picnics, it also welcomes a house guest that nobody wants, ants! From food contamination to costly property damage, these pests can pose serious health and property risks. This Spring season, Invicta Pest Control is sharing tips for an ant-free home.
“Ants are social pests that live and work in large complex colonies,” says Mike Gilbert, board-certified entomologist at Invicta Pest Control. “Spotting even just one ant indoors could indicate the presence of a nest with thousands nearby, making it crucial to call a pest control professional immediately to assess the situation.”
Although small in size, these pests can cause big problems on your property. To prevent an ant infestation in your home, Invicta Pest Control is sharing the following tips from the National Pest Management Association:
- 1. Wipe up crumbs and spills immediately
- 2. Keep food packages closed or sealed and store products in tightly airtight containers
- 3. Store garbage in sealed containers and regularly remove it from the home
- 4. Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including entry points for utilities and pipes
- 5. Repair holes or gaps in window and door screens
- 6. Keep pet food and water dishes clean
- 7. Replace weather stripping and repair loose mortar around the basement foundation and windows.
Spring is the peak season for these unwanted invaders like ants to surface, so it is important to take precautions and pay close attention to signs of a potential infestation. If you discover ants in your home, contact a licensed pest professional who can identify ant species and recommend a course of treatment. To learn more about ants, please visit Invicta Pest Control or our fire ant control page if you are seeing fire ants specifically. Reference: NC State Extension on Ants.
Related reading: New Year, Fewer Pests: Pest Prevention Tips for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Ants in Raleigh
When do ant infestations start in Raleigh?
Spring ant problems in Raleigh usually start in March as soil temperatures rise and colonies wake up. Activity peaks April through June before easing slightly in mid-summer heat.
What attracts ants into Raleigh homes in spring?
Moisture, food residue, and small entry points around foundations, windows, and door frames. Pet food bowls, sticky kitchen surfaces, and overripe fruit are common indoor draws. Outside, mulch beds and overgrown landscaping push colonies toward the house.
What kind of ants are most common in Raleigh yards?
Odorous house ants, Argentine ants, carpenter ants, and pavement ants. Fire ants are common in open lawns farther south but show up in some Raleigh properties too. Carpenter ants are the ones to take seriously — they tunnel into wood.
Do DIY ant sprays actually work?
Contact sprays kill the ants you see and trigger budding — the colony splits into multiple satellite colonies. Baits work better because workers carry the active ingredient back to the queen. Professional treatment combines targeted baits with non-repellent perimeter applications.
How long does professional ant control take to work?
Visible activity usually drops within 7-14 days of the first treatment. Full colony elimination can take 3-6 weeks depending on the species and how established the colony is. Quarterly maintenance keeps new colonies from establishing.
Related Reading
- Venomous Snakes in Raleigh, NC: What You Actually Need to Worry About
- Mosquito Control Near Water in Raleigh, NC
- Dealing with Stinging Insects in Raleigh’s Summer
- Our Ant Control Service
Save more by bundling: Spring ants are usually the first sign that your year-round pest plan needs to start. New Raleigh customers can bundle pest, termite, and mosquito control and get free Mosquito, Flea, and Tick service for the rest of 2026 with a new agreement.
