In the middle of preparing supper or sipping a cup of coffee, you see a swarm of black ants crawling all over the place. There is something frightening about seeing ants in your living quarters, even though the insects are tiny and don't usually attack humans.
Even if you keep clean regularly, sugar ants may still get into your house. In particular, if you have children in the house, they make it difficult to keep track of all the sweet products that attract ants, such as juice and jelly. So, where do sugar ants originate from, and how can you get rid of these unwanted pests if you have an infestation?
Sugar ants will start to infiltrate homes to get food and water in the spring. Even though these ants aren't harmful to people, they're a nuisance that can be tough to get rid of. From the most remarkable natural and chemical therapies to preventative measures that keep these sugar ants coming back, here's everything that you need to know to get rid of them.
What are sugar ants?
In some regions, sugar ants, or banded sugar ants, are tiny black ants that are only found there. Pavement ants (also known as pharaoh ants) and sugar ants are common household insects. Pharaoh ants have yellow or light brown bodies and reddish-brown or black legs.
This species of ant is drawn to sweets of all kinds and leftover sugary dishes. They also ingest plant pollen, lipids, and proteins (which they get through devouring other insects). They'll bring food back to the nest for the remainder of the colony once they discover a food source.
Where do sugar ants come from?
Outside of your home, most sugar ants are attracted to your food. Pests like mosquitoes and other mosquito-like insects have four to five times more olfactory receptors than other insects, so they can detect food and follow scent trails in your home and foundation. One ant is all that is needed to discover a way in. As soon as an ant finds food or water, it leaves a small trail for other ants to follow, called a pheromone.
Sugar ants might also enter your house through existing nests. They like to build their homes in places that aren't disturbed, such as inside walls or basements.
How to get rid of these unwanted guests:
Getting rid of sugar ants begins with finding and following their visible path, which will help you discover their entry point into your home and provide you a starting point for remediation, so do this first. Choose between a natural or chemical approach when you've found the route and the entry site. Ants may be controlled in a variety of ways.
Sugar ants may be exterminated using natural techniques
The following natural home cures for sugar ant infestation will help you avoid using harsh chemicals:
- Put one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle and spray the solution on the ants. A component of vinegar called acetic acid masks the odor of ant trails and served as a repellent for these pesky insects. Spray around baseboards and any probable entrance paths and trails after locating the ant entry site to discourage ants from moving along these routes. Once the ants have been sprayed, use a paper towel to clean up the dead ants and throw them away. Spray in the morning or late afternoon, when ants are most busy, to get the most out of this home cure.
- The acidity and odor of coffee repel ants, so scatter used coffee grounds throughout your home. To keep ants away from your pets and other food sources, sprinkle used coffee grounds around their food bowls. If you want to keep ants out of your house, scatter some coffee grounds around the perimeter.
- Put out whole cloves or bay leaves—The components in cloves and bay leaves that cause the pungent scent do an excellent job of deterring sugar ants. To prevent ants, place whole cloves along the baseboards and bay leaves beneath the counters.
- If you want to keep ants away from your food, hang some garlic cloves or bay leaves in your cupboard. Garlic may be hung from the knobs and shelves of your cupboard using string.
- Insect repellent may be manufactured at home by combining one part of water with a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil in a spray container. You may use the remedy to keep ants away from your kitchen island and pantry shelves.
- Using honey or corn syrup, place a plastic plate on a table. Attracted by the bait, the ants will be entangled in the sticky material. Discard the dish and any rubbish you've collected after killing the ants.
- Use commercial organic products—they're better for you and the environment. Organic products for sugar ants are highly effective options.
Do all those options sound like a lot of work and you'd like an easier option? Give Ground Pest Control a call today and we can help you prevent this issue from happening in the first place! We use natural products that are safe for your family and pets, so you can be sure our methods are only getting rid of pests similar to those ants.