Why do sugar ants like my cat and dog food?
Sugar ants, not known as pavement ants or odorous house ants, are attracted to a variety of food sources, including pet food. There are several reasons why they might be particularly drawn to your cat and dog food:
- High Sugar and Protein Content: Many pet foods, especially those in dry kibble form, contain significant amounts of sugar and protein. These are attractive to sugar ants, as they provide the nutrients they need to sustain their colonies.
- Food Residues: Even if you keep your pet’s feeding area clean, there may still be small food particles or residues left behind. These can attract ants, especially if the food is not stored properly or if spills occur.
- Moisture: Sugar ants are also attracted to moisture. If your pet’s food bowl is placed in an area where spills occur frequently or where there’s high humidity, it can create an attractive environment for ants.
- Accessible Entry Points: If there are cracks, gaps, or openings in your home near your pet’s food area, ants can easily enter to access the food. They are quite adept at finding even the smallest openings to gain entry.
To prevent sugar ants from being attracted to your pet’s food, you can take several measures:
- Store pet food in airtight containers to prevent access by ants.
- Clean up any spills or food residues promptly.
- Elevate food dishes off the ground on stands or trays, and consider placing the dishes in shallow pans of water to create a moat barrier that ants cannot cross.
- Seal up any cracks or gaps in your home’s exterior to prevent ants from entering.
- Consider using pet food dishes designed to resist ants, such as those with moat barriers or built-in ant guards.
By implementing these preventive measures, you can help discourage sugar ants from being attracted to your pet’s food and reduce the likelihood of infestations but once it get out of control call us at Go Green Pest Control Corp.
