Ants in the house during winter? Why cold weather and rain are driving them into your home

rapiplaga
26/01/2026

If you’ve suddenly found a trail of ants making their way across your kitchen or bathroom in the middle of January, you’re not alone. This winter on the Costa del Sol has been particularly cold and wet, and that has sent emergency call-outs in Málaga and Marbella through the roof. What we’re witnessing is a survival phenomenon: ants are fleeing waterlogged soil and freezing temperatures. They’re looking for exactly what we look for: a dry, warm shelter with a nearby food source.

Ants, a world of more than 20,000 species

We sometimes think all ants are the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is estimated that there are more than 22,000 species in the world (around 15,000 already catalogued), and each one has a fascinating survival strategy:

Nomadic ants: They have no fixed nest and are constantly on the move.
“Farming” ants: They herd aphids to harvest honeydew, defending them from other predators.
Fungus-growing ants: They cultivate their own fungi underground as a food source.

This enormous variety is precisely what makes elimination straightforward in some cases — and a genuine logistical challenge in others.

Why do some disappear quickly while others seem utterly unstoppable?

At RapiPlaga we always explain to our clients that success depends on the “size of the enemy”.

The straightforward case: Sometimes the problem is a small satellite nest located in a plant pot, a flower bed, or a gap in the wall. Here, a targeted professional treatment delivers a quick and permanent solution.
The supercolony challenge: This is where the science becomes truly remarkable. Certain species, such as the Argentine ant (very prevalent in our area), do not form simple nests — they form supercolonies.

Did you know…? Scientists have discovered an Argentine ant supercolony stretching over 6,000 kilometres, from Italy to the Atlantic coast of Spain, running along our entire Mediterranean coastline. Most remarkably, ants from this colony — even those thousands of kilometres apart — recognise one another as “family” and do not fight amongst themselves.

When the enemy spans kilometres, the strategy has to change

If the ant colony affecting your home or business forms part of a network extending across hectares or square kilometres, treating just a few metres of your living room is like trying to empty the sea with a bucket. In these cases, eliminating the problem 100% permanently is, technically speaking, impossible. This historical map illustrates how the Argentine ant forms massive supercolonies stretching thousands of kilometres along the Spanish coastline. Due to this complex social structure, home remedies tend to fail. Effective control of this pest requires professional intervention. If you detect this type of invasion, contact the experts at RapiPlaga.

So what should we do?

Strict hygiene: It is essential to remove anything that might attract them. Not a crumb, not a drop of juice, not exposed pet food. If there’s no reward, they’ll look elsewhere.
Control access points: Sealing cracks and entry points helps, although ants are masters at finding alternatives.
Professional maintenance: When pest pressure is high due to environmental conditions, the solution is not a one-off treatment but a periodic maintenance plan. The goal is no longer to eradicate the species entirely (impossible with supercolonies), but to create a barrier and keep them “at bay” so that your home remains a clean and peaceful space.

If this winter ants have decided to move in with you uninvited, remember that understanding which species we’re dealing with is the first step to winning the battle. Need us to assess your situation in Málaga or Marbella? At RapiPlaga, we know how to stop them in their tracks.