General Prevention Tips
Ants might look like tiny creatures, but they can be a huge nuisance and even a health threat. Fortunately, with a few simple steps it is possible to stop them before they become a problem.
The best way to prevent ants from entering your home is to identify the entry points around your property and create a barrier to keep them out. This includes sealing cracks and crevices in walls and foundations, ensuring door frames and windows fit tightly, and weatherproofing doors and windowsills. The American Orkin recommends that you maintain your property by cleaning up food crumbs and spills as soon as they occur and by taking out your trash regularly.
Although it is not recommended to use pesticides, you can use ant traps and baits to attract and eliminate ants. Traps should be located along ant trails, and the bait should be replaced periodically to maintain its effectiveness. In addition, its important to remove any potential water sources, such as leaking pipes or puddles, to make sure that ants are not attracted to your home.
Professional pest control companies can also be used to get rid of an ant infestation. Pest control experts know how to identify ant species and implement the correct control steps to rid your house of ants safely and effectively.
Non-Chemical Extermination Methods
Non-chemical extermination methods are often the most effective way to permanently get rid of ants. These methods include non-toxic traps and baits, as well as sealing points of entry and denying ants access to food sources.
Traps and baits can be used to draw in and kill ants. Non-toxic baits should be placed where ants are known to congregate and along the trails they take back and forth to their nests. Traps are also an effective way to control an ant infestation, as they can be set along ant trails to catch the ants and prevent them from spreading further.
In addition to traps and baits, you can also reduce ant access to food sources by not leaving food out in the open, cleaning up food debris and spills, sealing off potential points of entry, and maintaining your property regularly.
Chemical Extermination methods
If non-chemical extermination methods have not been successful in getting rid of ants, then you may need to consider chemical extermination. This should only be done as a last resort and under the guidance of a professional pest control company.
Chemicals to get rid of ants can be applied directly to their nests or trails, or to potential points of entry. Common chemicals used for ant extermination are arcymethrin and permethrin, which can be purchased from hardware stores. However, these chemicals can be dangerous if not used properly and can also be hazardous to pets and children.
It is important to remember that chemical extermination is only a temporary solution as ants will eventually find their way back into your home. Therefore, it is important to also use the other non-chemical methods in conjunction with chemical extermination to ensure that the ants are permanently kept away.
Preventative Measures
To prevent ants from entering your home, it is important to maintain your property regularly and deny the ants access to food. This means not leaving food out in the open, sealing food that is stored in airtight containers, cleaning up food debris and spills as soon as they occur, and regularly taking out your trash.
It is also important to identify the entry points around your home and create a barrier to keep them out. This includes sealing cracks and crevices in walls and foundations, ensuring door frames and windows fit tightly, and weatherproofing doors and windowsills.
In addition to these measures, you can also use ant traps and baits to draw in and kill the ants. The traps should be located along ant trails, and the bait should be replaced periodically to maintain its effectiveness.
Natural Solutions
Natural solutions are increasingly becoming a popular way to get rid of ants without the use of potentially dangerous chemicals. These methods include using essential oils, diatomaceous earth, borax, and white vinegar to deter and kill ants.
Essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil are known to have repellent properties and can be used to deter ants from entering your home. Diatomaceous earth is another natural remedy that can be used to get rid of ants as it contains microscopic particles that can kill the insects on contact. Additionally, borax and white vinegar can be used in homemade natural ant traps and baits.
Consulting a Professional
If you have an ant infestation in your home, it is best to consult a professional pest control company. The experts will know the best control steps to take to get rid of the ants safely and effectively.
Pest control experts can also help identify the ant species, recommend measures to prevent them from coming back, and inspect for other pest infestations in your home. In most cases, the techniques implemented by a professional will be more effective than those used by homeowners.
Conclusion
Ants can be a nuisance and even a health threat, so it is important to take measures to prevent them from entering your home. This includes sealing potential points of entry, denying ants access to food sources, using traps and baits, and consulting a professional. In addition, natural solutions such as essential oils, diatomaceous earth, borax, and white vinegar are becoming increasingly popular ways to eliminate ants without the use of chemicals.
