An ant egg is white, oval-shaped, and small, about as big as the period at the end of this sentence. While ant eggs might be great for making the world’s teeniest omelet, if you discover them in your home or yard, you have a giant problem.
Ant eggs are produced by a queen ant, which can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day if needed. These eggs hatch into swarms of ants determined to build a colony and forage for food. The tiny critters might choose to build a nest in your walls, basement, or right outside your back door. If left unchecked, you might have thousands of ants searching for food in your cupboards, behind your appliances, and swarming over your storage areas.
When you see ants, you need to act fast. First, wipe away the ants with a damp cloth and rinse down the drain. Then place ant gels or bait stations around the area where you found the ants. Or you can try an ant-killing bait gel, which is applied with an applicator. Squeeze bait gel into cracks and crevices, and around the ant area.
Whatever the type of bait, ants will eat it and take some back to the colony to feed the queen. The queen will die, and ant eggs will no longer be a problem. Without a queen, the entire colony will die off within a week or two.
Identifying the type of ants in your home can help determine the best prevention and control approach. Different ant species behave differently, build nests in different locations, and are attracted to different food sources. Some ants are primarily nuisance pests, while others may cause structural damage or create larger infestations over time.
Common household ants include odorous house ants, pavement ants, carpenter ants, and fire ants. Odorous house ants are small and often attracted to sugary foods, while carpenter ants may nest in damp or damaged wood. Pavement ants are commonly found near driveways, sidewalks, and foundations, and fire ants are known for their painful stings and outdoor mounds.
Preventing ants from entering your home starts with removing the food, water, and shelter that attract them. Even small crumbs, spills, or moisture buildup can encourage ants to establish trails and nests nearby. Keeping kitchens clean, storing food in sealed containers, and regularly taking out trash can help reduce attractants indoors.
Sealing cracks around windows, doors, foundations, and utility lines may also help limit entry points for ants searching for food and water. Since many ants are drawn to moisture, repairing leaks and reducing standing water around sinks, pipes, and bathrooms can further help discourage infestations.
If ant activity continues, targeted ant baits and control products can help eliminate ants where they live and travel. Baits are often effective because worker ants carry the product back to the colony, helping target the source of the infestation over time. Monitoring ant trails and treating problem areas early can help prevent colonies from growing larger indoors.
Once you’ve taken steps to kill the egg-laying menace, you will want to protect yourself from future problems. By keeping a clean galley and using ant bait from Combat®, you can take steps to protect your home from ants.