Homemade Diy Ant Killer
When searching for DIY or homemade ant killers you will find people that recommend everything from peppermint oil sprays to sprinkling cinnamon on their counters. Other people swear by coffee grounds, grits, and cornmeal. Many people believe that wiping counters down with vinegar will disrupt the pheromone trails. Despite many people pouring aspartame onto ant mounds and sprinkling it onto their counters, the idea that aspartame is toxic to ants started with a satirical article on The Spoof. There is no evidence that aspartame kills ants.
The one household ant killer that has the greatest chance of permanent success is an ant bait made with borax. Boric acid is a natural product that is mined out of the ground. Boric acid is used in contact lens solution and as a cleaning agent, often added to laundry. Boric acid effectively kills insects by disrupting their stomach functions and nervous systems. It also damages their exoskeleton. By mixing boric acid, a sugary sweet attractant, and water, you can create a homemade ant bait. The ants will carry the boric acid bait back to the nest and feed it to the other ants in the colony. Many commercially available ant baits utilize boric acid as the active ingredient.
Causes Of Sugar Ant Infestations
Heavy rains and floods are known to displace sugar ants, and if your home or premises provides a suitable cover for them, they are bound to infest it.
That said, here are some of the more common causes of sugar ant infestations:
- Food crumbs that litter different areas of the house like the kitchen countertop, floor, or sofa
- Carelessly kept sweet foods
Once you understand the causes of ant infestations, you are closer to working out how to get rid of sugar ants.
Make Your Own Natural Insect Repellents
There are many ways to stop ants naturally. Of course, the insects need sustenance in order to survive, so you will have to find a suitable food source for them. You can make your own natural insect repellents by mixing together essential oils with water and creating a mixture that you can spray on surfaces.
This method is particularly effective because it disrupts the ants ability to communicate with one another and gives them the option of starving or moving on.
The other way that you can get rid of sugar ants is via baiting. Sugar ants have an insatiable appetite for sweets and they will try anything they can find in their search for sweet nectar.
Sprinkle some sweet treats around your home in locations where youve seen evidence of sugar ants and watch as these pests turn up in droves to devour your offerings. The key to this technique is that these pests must eat it before they take it back to their colony, so make sure not to leave too much out at any given time.
Boric Acid and Ant Baits
Boric acid also works as a natural substance to repel ants. If you use boric acid in conjunction with ant baits, you may be able to kill ants, destroy the sugar ant nest in your property and permanently get rid of a sugar ant infestation.
Put ant baits or an ant trap near where you see any ant trails. This will will attract sugar ants and kill this ant species.
Also Check: How Much Sugar In An Angry Orchard
Block Their Entry Points
You can also keep ants away from your kitchen by blocking their entry points. While it can be impossible to seal every nook and cranny, try as much as possible to seal cracks, crevices, and holes in walls, radiators, and near floorboards. The secret is to follow their trail to find out their entry point. Also, check around window frames, screens, and doors. If you live in a standalone house , you can inspect the exterior of your foundation, where you should be able to eventually find a trail of ants moving in and out.
If All Else Fails: Seek Out A Professional
Getting rid of ants in the car can be tricky and annoying, especially when dealing with an additional infestation. There may be some areas you missed or could not reach because you dont have the proper equipment.
In addition, pheromone trails left by worker ants are a hassle to get rid of. The problem recurs even after you clean up every trace of food and water bottles.
In that case, 24H Pest Pros will ease your worries and solve your problem for good. Why waste time getting rid of those pesky ants when you can turn to an experienced professional who will take care of it for you once and for all?
Recommended Reading: What Is Ideal Fasting Blood Sugar
How To Identify Types Of Ants
There are many species of ants across the United States. And, when deciding which method to use to eliminate them, it helps to know what kind of ant you’re dealing with.
According to Nalyanya, the most common ants that will enter your home include carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pavement ants. You may also see big headed ants, and on the western side of the country, something called crazy ants.
- Carpenter ants: A large species of ant that feeds and nests in damp wood with elbowed antennae and a pinched waist. Size ranges from 3.4 to 13 millimeters.
- Odorous house ants: Dark brown in color with an unevenly shaped thorax and a petiole hidden by their abdomen. Odorous house ants emit a very strong scent when crushed.
- Pavement ants: Worker pavement ants are small in size and are typically dark brown or black with a shiny shell.
- Big headed ants: Big headed ants are one of the easiest ants to identify their heads are about three times the size of the rest of their body and they are much more aggressive than typical house ants.
- Crazy ants: The tawny crazy ant or Raspberry crazy ant moves in a quick and unpredictable manner. These ants are about 3 millimeters in size and are covered in reddish-brown hairs. They are often found in or near electronics.
How To Get Rid Of White
White-footed ants are the reason for many calls to pest control companies. Although they do not bite or sting, they have remarkably large colonies. White-footed ants are small and black or dark brown in color. They are aptly named as they have white or yellowish feet. Mature white-footed ant colonies may have as many as 8,000 to 3 million individuals. Their colonies grow so large because up to 30% of the ants in the colony are capable of reproducing. Like big-headed ants discussed above, white-footed ants are a super colony ant species. They build extensive nests and cooperatively share resources and food. A supercolony of white-footed ants may extend for several square miles.
White-footed ants are strongly attracted to sweet nectar and honeydew. Although this is not an agricultural issue in the United States, in some countries, white-footed ants are known to farm honeydew producers such as aphids, mealybugs, and scales. White-footed ants will actually take care of these honeydew producers and defend them against predators. This has caused great crop losses due to aphids, mealybugs, and scales.
Recommended Reading: Will Medicare Pay For Blood Sugar Monitors
Get Rid Of Sugar Ants In 3 Steps
The term sugar ant is a term used to describe a variety of ant species that seek out sweets in your home. In the United States and Canada, the term sugar ant is used to describe any sweet-eating ant that invades your home. These sugar ants are usually small and especially persistent in their efforts to raid your kitchen, cabinets, and sinks in an attempt to haul bits of food back to their nest.
To get rid of these ants, you need to follow three basic tips:
STEP 1 — Seal off their entryways, wherever possible
STEP 2 — Lay down ant bait, like our TERRO® Liquid Ant Baits, to eliminate the colony
STEP 3 — Limit their access to food inside your house
Of course, you probably want a few details on why sugar ants are targeting your home, what they are after and specific tips to eliminate the problem, so read on. Beating these sweet-eating ants is possible, and this quick guide will show you how to fight sugar ants in any of their forms.
How Do You Get Rid Of Sugar Ants In The Kitchen
Answer 5: The most effective way to get rid of sugar ants in the kitchen is to find and eliminate the ants nest.
Sugar ants typically nest outdoors in soil near the foundation of a house or other structure.
Once the sugar ants nest has been located it can be destroyed by pouring boiling water into it.
If boiling water is not available the nest can also be drenched with soapy water or insecticide.
Also Check: What Can Bring Your Sugar Down Fast
How To Kill Ants: Top 20 Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Ants
Donât know how to kill ants effectively? So here are 20 simple ways you can do today to kill ants naturally and fast. Try now to get rid of ants for good.
Mix white vinegar and water in equal parts Pour your solution into a spray bottle Spray the mixture on ants directly to kill them Spray more of the mixture on ant trails and entry points of the house Clean and disinfect the kitchen with solution. Ant baits will lure ants out of their deep hiding places and help bring them to the end.. In the nest, all the other ants, including the queen, will share the bait.. Getting rid of ants and learning how to kill ants in the kitchen starts with the right steps.. Food is what the ants are after, so you must be diligent about keeping the house free of food products.. If you can find the nest, there are some great ways to kill the ants inside and cause them to leave your home for good.. There is no more need to wonder how to kill ants in and out of your home.
How To Get Rid Of Small Black Ants
When small black ants begin to march into your home, you need a plan and fast! Many ant species look similar to the untrained eye, most ants that invade homes and businesses are small and black. These small black ants that occasionally come into your house are in search of food and moisture. Most species of ants are looking for sweet liquids or carbohydrates. If you are dealing with occasional sightings of small black ants, here are a few basic tips to get rid of these pesky invaders for good.
- Clean up food spills right away
- Keep food contained in the kitchen and dining room
- Store food in sealed containers
- Promptly fix any water leaks or moisture issues inside and outside your home
- Trim tree branches and shrubs so that they do not touch the structure
- Seal all windows and doors and any entrances to your home
- Follow the ant trails to find and treat the nest
- Apply ant bait near the trails reapply as needed to supply a steady supply of fresh bait
- Apply a non-repellent perimeter spray around the structure
- Actively monitor the ant infestation
You May Like: Is 50 Blood Sugar Low
Sugar Ants In The Kitchen
Kitchens and food preparation areas are the most common areas where you can find sugar ants. This is natural, as this is where we store the sweet carbohydrates that sugar ants crave.
Most homeowners find sugar ants around trashcans, in the pantry, near the oven, stove, or near baseboards. In fact, you are likely to find sugar ants anywhere where food crumbs collect.
Sugar ants search for two things: water and food. So they usually build close to water sources. Fixing leaks and moisture problems in and around your home is the first line of defense in avoiding a sugar ant invasion.
Cleaning up and removing any food on the floor or out in the open is the next best defense against the tiny ants. Empty trash receptacles often and clean up crumbs near baseboards and on countertops. Also, store food and ingredients in airtight containers.
Watch food storage areas for signs of an infestation. If you see evidence such as trails of food, holes in bags, and especially active ants, you may have an infestation. The bottom line is the secret of how to get rid of sugar ants are two things: cleanliness and sanitation. They are the first line of defense against sugar ants.
Where Do Sugar Ants Like To Live
Sugar ants are hardy and can make several different habitats their homes. Sugar ant colonies can be either located indoors or outdoors, usually near a water source. Mulch, undisturbed debris, or stones make excellent outdoor locations for sugar ant colonies. If an area floods or receives too much rain, sugar ants can move to a drier and safer location, like your home!
Indoors, you can find the tiny ants under sinks, around floorboards, near trashcans, in food storage areas, or around hot water heaters. Many homeowners may begin to see sugar ants after a rainy season as colonies migrate indoors.
Like almost all ant species, all sugar ant colonies feature worker ants and a queen. The queen lays eggs while the worker ants secure food, provide security, and build out the colony.
Also Check: What Cereal Has Low Sugar
How To Get Rid Of Groundhogs: 7 Tips And Tricks
Well discuss some tips and tricks on how to get rid of groundhogs. Well cover both lethal and non-lethal options for getting rid of these pesky creatures!
Groundhogs come to a yard or garden because they think it is a good place to find food and it provides a safe haven.. If you do not want groundhogs coming into your space, see to it that you make it less attractive to these burrowing pests.. Here are some of the known. groundhog attractants:. True enough, even gardeners and. some professionals swear by castor oil for getting rid of burrowers such as. groundhogs.. To deter groundhogs using castor oil, create a mixture of 1/2 cup castor oil and 2 cups of water.. Lavender This plant has many different uses but who would have thought that it is actually a good deterrent for groundhogs?. The best groundhog trap is perhaps the basic box-type cage trap.. Groundhogs are very cautious. creatures, so here are some tips for a successful trapping:. Using ammonia as a deterrent is actually my favorite method of dealing with groundhogs.. Pour the solution down the groundhog holes.. While groundhogs are skilled climbers, a properly installed fence will do a good job of keeping them out.. Groundhogs can be quite determined so make sure that you add an outward angle at the top of the fence.
You May Like: What Should You Sugar Level Be
Still Wondering How To Get Rid Of Sugar Ants
If youre still wondering how to get rid of sugar ants, weve done something wrong. After all, weve laid out DIY methods and when to call a pro. Heck, we even gave you an easy way to connect with a pro!
Either way, we sure appreciate you stopping by. Before you leave, be sure to check out some of our other guides to help you keep your home in tip-top shape.
You Might Also Like:
Also Check: Does Nestle Splash Have Sugar
Controlling And Eliminating Sugar Ants With Powders
If you still have trails of ants popping up, its time to double down. These powders can kill ants when they are eaten and can also be carried back to the nest, killing nest mates as well. We do recommend using caution with these powders, especially around children and pets.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is a food substance that will kill ants if they ingest it. Please use with caution, even if it is food!
- Diatomaceous Earth: Made of fossilized diatoms, diatomaceous earth is a soft type of sedimentary rock. This substance can cause irritation of mucus membranes, lungs, skin, and eyes. If youre not completely comfortable with this substance, we do not recommend using it.
- Borax: A mineral commonly used in household cleaners, borax is an effective ant killer, when used in shallow dishes around entryways. Borax should never be used within reach of pets or children.
If trying to control and eliminate sugar ants with natural methods isnt working, its time to call in the professionals. At PURCOR, we have plenty of experience eliminating sugar ants from Pacific Northwest homes and businesses. Get your free quote today or !
“*” indicates required fields
Keep Sugar Ants At Bay With Leaves Of Bay
Bay leaves are a natural sugar ants repellent.
Ants hate the way bay smells. So they will avoid it. It is a natural sugar ants remedy that is not messy, smelly, sticky, or complicated to prepare. Plus, it doesnt kill ants, it just chases them away.
So, take advantage of this compassionate method.
- Simply place bay leaves on the floor, along the walls, under your fridge and table, in the garage, on the windows, and everywhere you have seen ants.
- Put sachets with dry bay leaves in your cabinets and places where you store your goodies.
- Make bay powder and sprinkle it along the walls, in the walls or doors cracks, in sugar ants nest .
Don’t Miss: Does Fruit Sugar Cause Inflammation
How To Keep Ants Out Of Your House
- Seal all entry points. Caulk and seal any cracks or exposed crevices where ants can access the house.
- Keep sweets in airtight containers, tightly wrapped with foil or plastic, or in the fridge.
- Regularly clean countertops, floors, cabinets, and pantries. Also, keep pet food properly stored between meals and regularly clean pet bowls.
- Take out the trash and make sure that the trash cans are covered. Inspect the cans for residue that might linger after taking the garbage out and clean them regularly.
Brittany Hampton, COO of Massachusetts-based disinfecting and cleaning company Purifly, explains while it’s logical to think that cleaning products would kill bugs too, “people may be surprised to learn that disinfectants, sanitizers, and most under-the-sink cleaning agents are not rated to terminate ants or household pests. If someone’s best efforts to use environmentally sound solutions aren’t working, a local pest control company should offer the safest option for the customer’s specific needs and location.” Pest control companies can quickly identify the type of species you are dealing with, survey the extent of the damage, and suggest effective long-term remedies.