Even though they can be a nuisance, there is no denying that ants are fascinating creatures. They far outnumber the number of human beings on earth, with most scientists estimating that there are 100 trillion roaming the planet at any given moment.

Do you have questions about ants and aren’t sure where to get the answers?

Whether you’re worried about an ant invasion of your home or simply want to know more about how an ant colony runs, you’ll find the info below.

Read on and we’ll walk you through some of the most frequently asked questions about ants.

Do Ants Live Everywhere?

If you’ve ever had an ant problem in your home, you’ve likely dreamed about moving to a place where ants aren’t a problem. Unfortunately, you’d have to travel quite far to get to anywhere on the planet where you weren’t around ants.

Ants populate pretty much everywhere in the world, with the notable exception of Antarctica and some uninhabited islands. Everywhere in the civilized world, there are ants. It’s something that connects all of us, in a way.

Even with a time machine, you wouldn’t be able to escape ants. They’ve been spread across the world long before we arrived here. They date back to the Cretaceous period, which means they were collecting food alongside the dinosaurs.

When Are Ants Most Active?

Ant colonies work around the clock to build their homes and keep their expansive communities running. However, there are times when they are more active than others. Wondering when ants are most active is another one of the favored questions about ants people wonder about.

They tend to be most active in the spring and summer. Colonies tend to become more dormant in the winter months, where the cold weather forces many colonies to stay warm underground.

Of course, the activity habits of ant colonies will depend on a number of factors. The type of ant and where the colony is located can play a big role in how those acts behave.

Ants in warmer climates tend to be more active at night, while ants that live in cooler climates will tend to be more active during the day.

Can Ants Make You Sick?

Ant problems plague everyone at some point in their life. You walk into the kitchen or bathroom and discover a line of ants marching their way towards your personal goods. It can be irritating and annoying.

Can it also be dangerous for your health? Many people are uncertain if having ants in their homes can potentially be dangerous for their health, and is another of the questions about ants we get asked.

There is some element of risk. Ants have had an impact on a person’s allergies once they enter a person’s home. They can trigger symptoms for those who suffer from asthma or other kinds of respiratory illnesses.

In rare cases, ants can be the carriers of diseases such as streptococcus or salmonella, although this is less common within the United States. Ants that do carry a disease could contaminate food within a house that they come into contact with, potentially transferring disease to the human household resident.

While most ants generally don’t pose any real threat to their human counterparts, it’s still best to look into pest control as soon as you realize you have a problem.

Do All Ants Bite?

Even if they do not get you sick, all ants have the possibility of biting. There are all sorts of different ants out there, and the bite of an ant will vary in severity depending on the species in question.

Carpenter ants, for example, are a larger species of ant and their bite can hurt much more than the bite of other species.

Fire ants also have a bite that can irritate human skin. An infestation of fire ants can be especially worrying for this reason.

If you are bit by ants, the pain and swelling will likely subside within a few hours for most people. Some people with skin sensitivity might have more serious issues related to ants bites and might want to seek medical attention.

Even if you are not sensitive to the bite of an ant, the bite itself can be quite painful.

Why Do Ants Invade Homes?

This is one of the more popular questions about ants we get asked. Many people who run organized, clean homes are shocked to find that they can still be a victim of an ant invasion. Ants may decide to enter a home for a great many reasons.

Ants often are on the hunt for water as well as food, so leaking pipes or faucets can be a draw for them just as much as food left out could be. When the climate outside is very hot or cold, ants will also move into homes as a form of shelter.

Ants are always on the move, so if a building very close to yours has an ant issue, it can also increase the odds of ants entering your own home.

Ants can quickly migrate from one home to another as they search for more food and water. If there is any evidence that they may be able to find either on your home, they won’t hesitate to enter.