Ants in search of food and water often find ready supplies in homes. Here are some tips from the makers of Combat pest-control products for keeping ants out of your house:

¢ Ants often enter via tiny cracks and holes in the walls, such as the gaps around utility lines and windows. Filling those openings with caulk will block their entrance.

¢ Keep vegetation about a foot away from the house, and avoid placing mulch close to the structure.

¢ Fix water leaks and insulate cold pipes and appliances on which condensation develops. Ants need water, and they’ll enter your home to get it.

¢ Don’t overwater houseplants. If the tray at the bottom of the plant fills up, empty it.

¢ Leave pet food out only at feeding time, and store it in airtight containers.