There are over 700 species of ants in the U.S; however, only about 25 species commonly infest homes. Ants are very social insects that generally live in underground colonies, including workers and one queen.
These colonies can grow as big as hundreds of thousands of individual ants. Ants will eat any food but are especially attracted to sweets. When invading homes, ants generally begin in the kitchen and bathrooms, as these areas provide easy access to food and moisture. When ants find their way to food, they release an invisible chemical called “trail pheromone” as they return to their colony. This trail will allow fellow ants to follow the trail right to the food source, where each will release their scent to reinforce the trail.