They can come into your house from anywhere at any time, and once they’re inside it can be a real hassle trying to get them out again. Ants are almost certainly the most numerous species on earth, and in fact their combined bio-mass makes up roughly 20% of the entire animal life on the planet including human beings. It is believed that there are roughly one million ants for every person on the planet, which when you think about it is a rather staggering number. As long as humans have been on this planet, they’ve had to deal with the problem of ants getting into their food and living spaces, and thankfully those experiences have led to some great methods for those who are wondering just how to get rid of ants.
First, even before planning any action against them, you should understand their motivation for coming into your home in the first place, as this will help mightily in the fight against them. Almost always it is the fact that you have inadvertently laid out the ant equivalent of a five-star buffet somewhere in your home and they can’t resist foraging for it. The type of food that they are searching for will depend on the specific species of ant, with sweet and protein laden foods being near the top of the list for most varieties of this insect. It’s possible that you think your kitchen is perfectly clean and there is no way that you’re attracting these unwelcome guests, however you have to think like an ant does. Even a few crumbs under a fridge or around a baseboard can be enough to bring the first wave of the insects in, and then if they should happen upon anything else that has been left out you may well be on the way to a massive infestation before you know it. And eventually,
A Sweet Treat That Is Sure To Attract Ants
Knowing what draws them in isn’t enough; obviously you’ll want to know how to get them out. And the good news is that there are a few things you can do that will solve the problem quickly and completely. Here is a 4 part guide to getting rid of the problem.
1. Cleanliness, Cleanliness, Cleanliness
It was already mentioned earlier, but there is really no doubt that this is one of the most important steps to keeping this problem to a minimum. Because ants thrive on the ability to locate food in and around your home, you have to head them off at the pass in making sure that it just isn’t available. If they can’t find it in your place, they’ll quickly move on, and often an infestation won’t even begin. However if you are already having a problem with these creatures, it’s never too late to start cleaning up and removing tempting stuff from your home. Pay particular attention to hidden areas such as the spaces under appliances and cabinets where particles of food can hide as well as shelter any ants that might be hiding underneath them. Another easy way to prevent continuing issues is to tightly seal all food in airtight containers that are kept either in the refrigerator or specified cabinets. Trash and other refuse should also be taken out quite regularly, preferably nightly. Should it be left in the kitchen it can be a huge magnet to the insects. Just by keeping a regular schedule of cleaning you can vastly reduce the number of insects that will want to call your kitchen home.
2. Baits
Although cleaning up is pretty important, there are definitely occasions where it is not enough. For those infestations that need more control, there are a few things you can do to gain the upper hand on the bugs. For most species, baits are the most effective ant control tool. There are many options available to fit all types of infestations from the smallest to the largest, in addition to treating all of the various kinds of insect that might be causing you trouble. The type of bait that is most effective will rely primarily on what sort of food the ant in question is foraging for. The two main categories of food that attract these pests are sweets and protein laden food such as meat. Therefore you should be aware that there are baits for each type of insect, and using the appropriate kind is very important when it comes to achieving the desired effect.
3. Sprays
Another set of tools in the fight against this problem are sprays. These are usually based on the pyrethroid family of insecticides, which are among the most commonly used and safest products on the market no matter the setting. Many sprays also have the bonus effect of deterring the bugs from entering the area in the first place, and still others are formulated to be undetectable and have what is known as a residual effect where the insects will take the toxic substance back to their nest unbeknownst to them, thereby killing many of the other pests with which they share a home. This method of action can be invaluable, particularly if you are dealing with a large and long standing problem, where the bugs are coming from a larger colony outside your home. In cases such as this, it is vital to target the colony as a single entity as killing the individual bugs will have little to no long-term effect on the issue at hand.
4. Put A Barrier Around Your House
This advice is most applicable either before you have an infestation or after you’ve taken the appropriate steps to get rid of one. Because the problem at hand always comes from outside your home and usually originates in large colonies that are waiting for the right opportunity to seek out new places to nest it is important to put a protective barrier around your home to keep the insects out for good. This can be accomplished through the use of several different kinds of products most of which are sprays that dry and provide not only a barrier that will drive insects away but also some pesticide based protection that will kill any bugs that try to cross that barrier.
By keeping these few things about how to get rid of ants in mind, you can keep your house safe and free of one of the most numerous pests on earth.
John Sams has written many articles on home improvment, most of which are on home pest control. He is particluarly interested in getting rid of ants and other pests through the use of products such as ant baits. To learn more please visit www.domyownpestcontrol.com
