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Ants π ants π ants and more π are inside your home. You are not alone
Look familiar? The ants are here again.
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Nurcholis Anhari Lubis
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iStockphoto
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After a summer of heat, earthquakes, and landslides. Now, Southern Californians are contending with ants.
Yes. Nature's most industrious workers have been sneaking their way through hairline cracks and tiny openings into the homes of many Angelenos.
It's not just you
If you are experiencing an uncontrollable surge of the insect in your home. Rest assured, you are not alone.
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"This is probably one of the busier seasons we've had in the last 20 years," said James Carter, who manages the family-run Eary Termite & Pest Services in Chino.
Carter started seeing an uptick in customers seeking ant treatment in June β and those calls have not subsided.
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Even a full Santa Ynez reservoir wouldnβt have kept Palisades hydrants working, state report findsThe report concludes that the water supply was too slow, not too low, and even a functioning reservoir likely wouldnβt have stopped the Palisades Fire. -
After all the rain we've had lately, large fires likely won't be a concern until deep into 2026. -
Landfills are the second-largest source of methane emissions in California. Thatβs why the California Air Resources Board took action to monitor and capture landfill gases.
Blame the weather
The reason, Carter said, is the weather β "very hot" and "very dry" weather.
"There's so many ways for the ants to get in, like from under the slab, inside the walls, the foundation of the home," Carter said.
Once inside, they're gunning for shelter, food, and water.
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"It's a little cooler inside of homes than it is outside," said Carter, adding that it's not unusual for them to establish one or more colonies inside the walls or in other places.
"You have some ants that are protein ants looking for protein and then others looking for sugar," he said.
How to deal with your visitors
Ants.
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Nurcholis Anhari Lubis
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Getty Images
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Treatment typically involve spraying inside and around the perimeter of a property.
"We look for ant trails and we inspect the entire structure, trying to figure out how the ants are getting in, and then treating the trails of ants and treating those areas where the queen is," he said.
Carter expects these ant attacks to dial down come the cooler months of November and December.
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In the meantime, hang in there, folks. We've been through worse β landslides, earthquakes, record heat, to name a few things.
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Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
Weβre asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you canβt find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
