Ants are social animals and live in colonies with hundreds, or even millions, of others. They have tiny brains – in many cases smaller than a grain of sand. So how are they so clever at getting into our homes and finding our food? Because they are masters of cooperation.
Infestation Of Ants In House
The first step to dealing with ants in your house is ensuring they don’t have access to food. Seal all food in airtight containers, clean behind the fridge and in the toaster, do not leave pet food out longer than necessary, ensure your bins are tightly sealed, and generally make sure there is no food around to entice ants (I know, easier said than done).
If you’ve seen ants marching in a line, try wiping down the surface with vinegar or bleach to disrupt the chemical trail.
Prevent ants from entering your home in the first place by sealing up cracks and holes in walls. This will also prevent them from nesting inside wall cavities.
If all else fails, insecticidal baits can be used to control ant numbers. But before you take that route, ask yourself whether the ants are actually a problem (more on that later).
Insecticides may harm other insects
If your ant problem has got out of hand, contact a pest control professional rather than attempting to deploy a bug bomb or similar insect spray yourself.
DIY methods rarely work because ants mostly live in protected spaces (such as underground or in walls). You might kill a few worker ants, but probably won’t harm the colony.
If you (or a professional) do use insecticides, avoid using them outdoors and look for ones specifically designed for ants. Most insecticides are broad spectrum chemicals that can kill other types of insects. This includes insects beneficial in your home and garden, such as ladybirds, mantises and parasitoid wasps.
It may take a while for the ant colony to die, especially if it is large. Some species distribute themselves among several nests which makes them much harder to eradicate.
Ants fight back
In most ant species, the queen is the only individual who can produce new workers. So to destroy the colony, you need to kill the queen.
But some species, such as the rock ant (Temnothorax albipennis), have evolved an ingenious way to protect the queen and her larvae from poisoned food.
Some worker ants stay in the colony and receive new food from forager ants – storing the food in their abdomen and regurgitating it when their nestmates are hungry. Since these “storage ants” collect and mix food from many workers, they help ensure that incoming poisons are diluted before they reach the queen. They also act as poison testers: if the food is toxic, they die before they can pass it on to the queen.
We need ants
Remember that ants can be beneficial predators – I’ve seen ants attack and kill cockroach nymphs. Ants also play an important role in spreading the seeds of native plants, and of removing waste from our environment.
Ants are a normal and important part of our urban ecosystems. So if we want to protect our precious biodiversity, this may mean tolerating our tiny neighbours – even when they seem intent on taking over our kitchen or ruining our picnic.
No one wants ants ruining their food. But if you have a small number of ants wandering around the house, is that really a big deal?
Infestation Of Ants In House
Ants are a common household problem. You may be asking yourself “why are ants in my house?” or you might be frustrated by the constant presence of these little creatures. Whatever the case, it is important to understand that ants are not a sign of poor hygiene. They can be found in homes all over the world, and they will continue to exist unless you take action against them.
Ants are attracted to your home because they need food and water to survive. If you notice an infestation in your home, there are several steps you can take to get rid of them for good:
1. Seal cracks in the foundation and around windowsills with caulk or putty
2. Keep food away from where it would attract ants (refrigerator/freezer; cabinets) 3. Keep trash cans clean 4. Remove clutter from around your house 5. Get rid of standing water near your home
List Of Infestation Of Ants In House
- KILLS & REPELS. A preventative and a treatment, this pet-safe insect spray kills and repels indoor pests and keeps your home pest-free. Kills flying, crawling, biting and stinging pests including ants, roaches, spiders, flies, fleas, ticks, wasps, scorpions, mosquitoes, fruit flies, silverfish, moths, gnats, carpet beetles, earwigs, palmetto bugs, waterbugs.
- PROTECT YOUR HOME. This versatile bug control spray is also an indoor flea treatment and flea killer for your home. It kills fleas in carpet, furniture, bedding and flooring, and eliminates adults, eggs, and larvae in the home without staining.
- SAFE FOR DOGS & CATS. Pet-friendly, this spray is gentle enough to use several times a week around your loved ones, throughout the house, yet powerful enough to fully eliminate pests and provide lasting defense of your household from invading insects.
- PLANT-BASED AND POWERFULLY EFFECTIVE. Using natural essential oils, this spray is a safe alternative to electronic bug zappers, lights, traps, powders, granules and conventional pesticides. No artificial colors, fragrances or harsh chemicals. Biodegradable. Cruelty-Free.
- EASY-TO-USE. This eco-friendly biopesticide can be sprayed easily around the home, throughout the kitchen, bathroom, and any other living areas. Simply spray around windows, doors, baseboards, under sinks, in cabinets, and around appliances. Works great for dog kennels and cat condos, too! Spray as often as desired for a pest-free home. Made in the USA from naturally-derived ingredients and safe around children. Safe when used as directed.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 10.5 Inches |
| Width | 3.7 Inches |
| Length | 3.4 Inches |
| Weight | 3 Pounds |
- Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier kills and prevents insects inside your home (12-month control for ants, roaches & spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- KILL LISTED INSECTS FAST: Kills all common household bugs like ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, earwigs, silverfish, centipedes, millipedes, and other listed insects
- INDOOR USE: Apply wherever insects are: in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, around doors and windows; spray the hard to reach places where bugs are a recurring problem
- USE WITH CONFIDENCE: Dries up to 30% faster (vs. other Ortho formulas) and leaves no stains or fumes; people and pets may enter treated areas after spray has dried
- EASY TO APPLY: Extended Reach Comfort Wand, now with 2X the reach (vs. other Ortho Comfort Wands) helps reduce back bending and hand fatigue with its one-touch continuous stream delivery — no pumping required
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 9 Inches |
| Length | 5 Inches |
| Weight | 8.98 Pounds |
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don’t – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
- Ready to Use – Place the bait stations, watch it attract ants, and eliminate the entire colony
- Use Throughout Your Home – Place stations near areas where you’ve seen ant activity including along baseboards, in corners, on counters, and more
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.5 Inches |
| Width | 6.6 Inches |
| Length | 1.2 Inches |
| Weight | 0.27 Pounds |
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2 with Comfort Wand kills ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks and other listed bugs; the formula is odor free, won’t stain, and keeps listed bugs out
- KILLS BUGS INSIDE: Kills those annoying home-invading insects, including ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, silverfish, centipedes and millipedes
- KEEPS BUGS OUTSIDE: Creates a bug barrier that will kill bugs you have and prevents new bugs for up to 12 months (applies to ants, roaches and spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- NO STAINING OR STINK: This spray can be used indoors and out, leaves no residue, and has no odor; people and pets may re-enter treated areas after spray has dried
- WAND MAKES APPLICATION EASY: The Comfort Wand eliminates hand fatigue, and there’s no pumping required, making it easy to spray along your home’s perimeter–indoors and outside
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.88 Inches |
| Width | 12 Inches |
| Length | 8.95 Inches |
| Weight | 0.73 Pounds |
- Kills ants where they hide for up to 3 months
- After ants feed on the bait, they return to the colony and transfer the bait to the queen and the others, thereby killing the entire colony
- For maximum effectiveness place all baits at the same time
- Use indoors in corners, along walls and near entry points to kill ants where they hide. Avoid placing baits directly on top surfaces treated with a spray product
- For household use: closets, basements, attics, recreation rooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, pantries, food storage shelving, waste receptacles,etc
Additional Info :
| Color | Red |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 5.01 Inches |
| Width | 5.62 Inches |
| Length | 1.1 Inches |
| Release Date | 2016-03-27T00:00:01Z |