Ants are common household pests. They don’t carry disease, but can be annoying.
Argentine ants are the most common cause of ant invasions indoors, but other species may cause problems in this area. Knowing which ant is causing your issue is important, since different ant species have different food preferences and will take different types of bait. For ant identification and control information, contact the District laboratory at (650) 344-8592.
If you see ants indoors, your first priority is to kill the ants that are inside and stop additional ants from coming in. Clean up or remove whatever the ants are feeding on, then wipe away ant trails with soapy water. Entry points can be sealed with caulk.
In many cases, this is enough to stop the problem. If ants continue to invade, you may need to use an ant bait to kill the colony. Place bait stations near where you see ants entering.
