Being bitten by ants while sleeping can be an unsettling experience. Understanding why these insects might bite can help in finding effective ways to manage their presence in your home.
Why Ants Bite While You Sleep
Ants typically do not actively seek humans to bite for food. Their bites are usually a defensive reaction or an accidental encounter. If an ant crawls onto a sleeping person, movement during sleep can disturb it, causing it to bite as a perceived threat, especially if trapped. Ants might also bite if they mistake skin flakes or natural oils for a food source, or simply out of exploration. When their nest or foraging trails are disrupted, ants can become defensive, leading to bites.
Common Indoor Ant Species That Bite
Several ant species commonly found indoors can bite humans, though the sensation and severity of the bite can vary.
Carpenter ants are larger and can deliver a painful bite if provoked, sometimes breaking the skin. They may also spray formic acid into the wound, which can increase discomfort.
Pavement ants can bite and possess a stinger, but their bites are generally not very painful, causing minor irritation and itching.
Odorous house ants are typically not known for biting humans, as their mandibles are usually too small to cause significant pain.
Fire ants, notorious for their painful stings, can build nests inside homes, especially in warmer climates. They aggressively sting if their colony is disturbed, causing a burning sensation and red, itchy bumps that may develop into white pustules.
How Ants Enter Your Home and Bedroom
Ants can enter homes through tiny openings like cracks in foundations, gaps around windows and doors, or where utility lines enter. Even a space as small as 1/64 of an inch can be an entry point. They might also use hidden routes like wall voids or subflooring.
Once inside, ants are drawn to various attractants within a home, primarily seeking food and water. Small crumbs, spilled drinks, or pet food can lure them. Moisture from leaky pipes or condensation also attracts them, as does the search for shelter, especially during periods of extreme weather outdoors.
Effective Strategies for Prevention and Removal
Preventing ants from entering your home involves cleanliness and sealing entry points.
Prevention
Regularly cleaning food spills, storing food in sealed containers, and maintaining tidy surfaces eliminate food sources that attract ants. Frequent sweeping and vacuuming also remove residues. Sealing cracks in foundations, around windows and doors, and where pipes or wires enter creates a physical barrier against ants. Trimming shrubs and trees away from the house prevents ants from using vegetation as bridges. Addressing moisture issues, like leaky pipes, removes a significant attractant.
Removal
For existing infestations, ant baits are effective, as worker ants carry poisoned food back to the colony, eliminating the nest. Commercial baits are available, or a homemade mixture of boric acid and sugar can be used, though caution is advised around children and pets. Natural deterrents like white vinegar and water solutions can disrupt ant trails and repel them when sprayed directly on ants or entry points. Essential oils such as peppermint or tea tree oil, and food-grade diatomaceous earth, can also be used as repellents or barriers. If infestations persist or are extensive, consulting a professional pest control service may be necessary.