Start by identifying the type of ant in your house so you can find out how to get rid of ants, their nesting habits and have a better idea of where they’re living (they may be nesting outdoors). Take a close-up photo of the ant and send it to your local university extension service (enter your state’s name and “university extension service” into any online search engine). The extension service will tell you the type of ant you’re dealing with and where it nests. They may give you fact sheets about the ant species and maybe even some advice on getting rid of that particular ant species.

Everyone gets the occasional ant in their house — it’s only natural! Insects can sneak in through open doors or windows, so you’re never going to prevent bugs enitrely. A sudden ant invasion, though, doesn’t just happen randomly. Ants are constantly on the hunt for food and water (moisture, in general) for their colonies, so your kitchen and bathroom are the most common spots to find ants.

“Ants have a sweet tooth, just like many of us, which leaves our kitchens particularly vulnerable to an infestation. In addition to the crumbs and spills we leave behind, our sinks provide a water source, which ants need to survive,” said Dr. Michael Bentley, an entomologist and director of training and education for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).