The use of residual
sprays or dusts will cause stress on the colonies,
causing them to split
into sub-colonies that scatter to other areas in the structure.
This is also called budding.
After spraying, your problem can be worse than at the beginning.
When you bait, you will want a slow acting bait.
Quick kill insecticides and baits will only kill the foraging ants, not allowing the foraging ants to take the
bait back home to feed the queen,nest workers and brood.
If the current ant bait that you are using is not acceptable to the ants,
if they are not visiting the bait, it is recommended that you change the baits.
Ants require carbohydrates-sugars, proteins and greases.
They find a variety of these sources in nature.
Examples are: other insects(proteins and greases), nectar, aphid honeydew ,
plant products(sugar and carbohydrates)
Choosing a bait would require knowing what they are currently feeding off of,
according to the nutritional needs of the colony. To be sure that you have
all the baiting needs met, you may want to be ready with a sugar-carbohydrate bait,
a grease-fat bait, and a protein based bait.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REMOVE ANY OTHER FOOD COMPETITION WHEN BAITING
AND LEAVE THE BAIT ALONE ONCE THE ANTS START FEEDING ON IT.
Behavioral Control: Sanitation and housekeeping for ant control
Store food in ant-proof containers. Denying ants easy access to stored foods is an essential part of ant control. Foods are safe in the refrigerator as long as the seal is sound. You can also use containers with snap-on lids and tight seals or glass jars with rubber gaskets and clamps. In big box stores, whole aisles are dedicated to such containers. You should be able to find them in all shapes and sizes for your various needs. Storing sweets in ant-proof containers is of particular importance, but ants will eat anything.
Clean obsessively in the kitchen and dining areas. Whether you’re dealing with pavement ants, little black ants, Argentine ants, thief ants, pharaoh ants, or any of the other common invasive species, you’ll need to keep a clean kitchen to gain control. Frequently clean all kitchen surfaces to remove food residue as well as ant pheromones. Immediately wipe up spills; don’t assume your dog will take care of it later (a custom in my house, but my dog is reliable). Vacuum daily to remove crumbs and small food particles. Do the dishes promptly after meals and wipe down the sink to get rid of moisture. Also clean drains with baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water regularly to remove ant-attracting filth.
About your garbage can… Routinely clean your indoor trash receptacles to keep any ant-attractants away, and bring the trash outside on a daily basis. Keeping organic garbage (table scraps, anything edible) in a separate, sealable container is a strongly recommended preventative measure for ant control and indeed all pest control. Plastic buckets with snap-on lids (any paint or hardware store) are a good option. You could also compost your organic waste, which is a green, gardener-friendly alternative.
Rinse food containers before disposal. It’s hard to convince people to wash garbage, but I’ll try anyhow. The residue left on glass, metal, and plastic food containers attract ants. You see, that little drop of warm grape soda, while not worth tilting your head back for, is a bountiful find for hungry ants. Similarly, meat wrapping should also be rinsed before tossing, as these attract the more protein-hungry ants (thief ant, Argentine ant, big-headed ant…).
Pet food. Sassy, your overweight spaniel, doesn’t need her food dish out at all hours of the day. Feed her and then remove her food and water bowls. If this doesn’t work for her, surround her dishes in a moat using a shallow tray and soapy water. If she drinks the soapy water, sterilize your animal to protect the integrity of the breed.
Get rid of excess moisture. Ants need moisture to keep an indoor nest growing. Be sure to insulate pipes and fix any leaks.
Make your property unfriendly to ant colonies. You’re going to have ants outside. You should – they perform some vital services in your name. However, there are some things you can do to keep ants (and other pests) from growing too numerous or trespassing in your home.
- Get rid of leaf litter and excess vegetation around your home, which provide the protection and moisture that can lead to large ant populations.
- Keep woodpiles, rock piles, pavers, and other clutter away from your home.
- Pests of all kinds benefit from heavy mulch. Mulch is also ugly and unimaginative. Do away with it.
- Work to get rid of garden pests like aphids and scales. These pests produce honeydew, which is fine cuisine to many ant species.
- Trim away tree branches and shrubs that brush up against your home. Don’t make it easy for these six-legged villains.
When ants are on the march, get in line. Many invasive species will march in lines on their way between their nest and food sources. Don’t make the unforgivable mistake of killing marching or swarming ants without first following them. Watch the ants. See what they are after and, more importantly, where they go afterwards. In this way you will find (A) how they are getting into your home and where their nest is located or (B) where they are nesting inside your home.
The time you take to locate ant nests and entry points will pay off greatly, allowing you to focus your exclusion efforts and chemical treatments in the right areas. Whether you’re following ants indoors or outdoors, focus on cracks and crevices made by baseboards, the tack strip at the edges of carpeting, where siding meets foundation, and where foundation meets earth. Nests are sometimes marked by anthills, but you’ll also find them under gravel, rocks, mulch, pavement cracks and where pavement meets grass, flower pots, and even directly adjacent to the foundation.
If the ants are coming inside from an outdoor nest, seal off their entrances into your home using a caulk and a caulking gun (petroleum jelly or duct tape will work as a temporary fix). Walk around your home both inside and outdoors – look for other cracks and crevices the ants may be using to get inside and apply sealant. Pay particular attention to where utility wires and pipes enter the home as well as window and door frames. Besides caulking gaps in doors and windows, you can apply weather stripping and door sweeps. Repair window screens using silicone caulk or screen patches. If you find that ants are nesting in your cabinet or in a wall void, you’ll want to set out ant baits (see Biological and Chemical Controls). You could also apply an insecticidal spray or dust to their exit/entry points (see Chemical Control) before sealing the ants inside. If you simply must kill marauding ants, wipe them up using a sponge soaked with detergent and water. This will kill the ants and erase the pheromone trail they use as a highway to food sources.
Sticky barriers are effective for both indoor and outdoor ant control. Sticky barriers can be applied around plants, trees, raised gardens, and even the legs of furniture. Tanglefoot makes a variety of sticky barrier products. Sticky Stuff is another good, versatile option. BugBarrier Tree Band is a popular product for ant-infested trees. In a pinch, applying a slathering of petroleum jelly (works well at the base of plants in gardens) will also work as an ant barrier.
But what if you want to get rid of them without the use of harsh chemicals?
Well look no further! Check out the list below to find out how to get rid of pesky ants the natural way
Baby Powder: You can dust this directly on to the ants when you see them and at all entry points where you think they might be entering.
Cucumber Peelings: Leave cucumber peelings in the areas where ants appear, these peelings are toxic to ants and will ward them off.
Vinegar & Water Wipe: Wipe down any surfaces where ants appear. Counter tops, tables, and even cupboards. They dislike the smell of vinegar, ultimately keeping them away.
Bay Leaves & Cloves: Another smell related trap for the ants. They’ll stay away from the smells they hate most!
Coffee Grounds: These can be spread around your house, but the best place for the grounds is the garden. It will keep your flowers and plants ant free!
Chalk: Draw chalk lines from there point of entry. They will avoid it like the plague!
Lemon Juice: Dabbing lemon juice around doors and windows can keep ants away.
Baking Soda & Powdered Sugar: If your looking to do more then keeping ants away use this little mixture to kill the small intruders! Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. The sugar will attract them and the baking soda will kill them.
Cinnamon: Using this in the powdered form or in an essential oil spray can do wonders for keeping ants away and is easy to clean up.
Cornmeal: This is best used out on your deck to get ants away from your patio or garden area. Just sprinkle cornmeal in high traffic areas.
Spray Them Away
Ants eat plants, they build little dirt hills all over the place and they’re generally unsightly. It’s harder to enjoy outdoor areas if you have an ant infestation, and it’s extremely uncomfortable to have them inside your home. Make your own natural ant-repelling sprays to keep these unattractive little insects away.
Watch - Notice where the ants are congregating. Pay attention to their walking paths, and look to see where you’re getting the highest amounts of ant activity.
Prep - Fill a spray bottle with plain water. This is the base for your ant-repelling formula.
Add a Bad Smell - Things that smell terrible to ants are pretty normal smells for humans. Add 5-6 drops of lemon juice to your water, and you’ve got an acidic solution that drives ants away. Alternativly, add 5-6 drops of essential cinnamon oil instead. Cinnamon smells sweet and pleasant to many human begins, but it has a bitter and very off-putting smell to ants.
Spray - Apply the solution to areas where you’ve noticed high ant traffic. Spray across doorways and around windows to keep ants out of the home. Spray the solution around the edges of your garden to keep ants out of your plants. You can even spray the solution directly on ant hills and other areas where you’ve noticed the ants. The bad smell in the solution will drive ants away.
Draw the Line
Draw a line that ants can’t cross with natural, easy-to-obtain materials.
Chalk - Draw a line around a window or piece of pavement with chalk. Ants won’t cross a line of chalk, because it gets on their legs and interfiers with the lines of scent they use to mark their paths.
Coffee - Unlike many humans, ants don’t like the smell of coffee. Save your old coffee grounds and strew them about your garden and outdoor areas. Place some around plant and flower beds and in sidewalk cracks, and keep the ants away. The grounds won’t harm your plants; in fact, coffee grounds make a good natural fertilizer.
Cucumber - Save cucumber peels and small slices. Place them around areas of high ant activity. The smellier the cucumber, the more effective it will be at repelling ants.
Grow Natural Ant Repellents
How does your garden grow? Add plants that naturally give off odors ants can’t stand, and keep them away from all your outdoor areas. Used as houseplants, the same herbs will repel ants indoors.
Herbs - Growing peppermint, lavender and fennel will keep ants out of your garden areas. Plant one or more of these herbs near your doors, and ants won’t want to go inside your home.
Fresh Smells - Cut fresh sprigs of sage from your garden, and place them inside cupboards and closets. The sage has a pleasant smell to humans, and a terrible smell to ants.
Garlic water - Use a clove of garlic and water to create a strong-smelling solution of garlic water. Spray this in any outdoor areas that are strongly affected by ants. This solution smells strong even to humans, so you may wish to use this only as a last resort.
It’s natural to hate ants, but it’s not natural to use a lot of strong chemicals to keep them away. Make your own natural ant repellents instead, and keep them out of the areas that matter to you.
