Home remedies for killing ants are an effective and frugal alternative to using a pest control company. A number of suggestions are provided as solutions. Does this Spark an idea?
History
Although there is no definitive date, the need for pest control probably dates back to the origins of agriculture, around 8000 B.C. Ants are one of the most widespread and irritating of these pests. Home remedies have been around for a long time to keep them and other pests away. For example, crushed mint leaves have been used for thousands of years, long before the advent of modern-day chemical products.
Identification
According to the Ant Institute, there are 11 types of ants most commonly found in the United States. Three of them are below.
Carpenter ants range in size from ¼ inch to ¾ inch. They build their nests in decayed wood. However, once established, they do attack healthy wood. If left unchecked for extended periods of time, they could create structural damage to a home. These ants can be difficult to get rid of, so if you have a large infestation, consider employing the services of a pest control company.
The fire ant comes in several colors: red, brown and black. Their nests are identifiable by the mounds that are found in sand or dirt. They are very territorial and will attack if disturbed.
The pharaoh ant, also known as the sugar ant, is a yellow color. They are very small, reaching no longer than 1/12 of an inch in length. They are found all over the United States but are most prevalent in the South.
Types
It's estimated that there could be as many as thousands of possible remedies for treating ants. Of course, not all are effective. Try the following popular solutions.
Kill the queen. Mix the following recipe, and make it available for the ants. They will take it back to the nest to feed the queen. A few hours after eating the concoction, she will die. But be careful! Keep this mixture away from children and animals because it will make them sick if swallowed.
3 1/2 oz. of jam
1 1/2 tbsp. of wet, canned cat food
1 tbsp. of boric acid
Create your own bug spray by soaking a cigarette in 1 qt. of water overnight. Nicotine, a poison, will suffuse the water. Place the mix in a spray bottle and use it to kill the pests.
Get rid of fire ants by pouring 2 to 3 gallons of hot water into the mound. Do this on a warm day between the hours of noon and 2 p.m. That's around the time the queen will be most active and you're more likely to kill her. Repeat at least two more times to ensure the water has reached throughout the colony.
Place instant grits in the area where there is ant activity. The ants will take the grits back to the nest to feed the others. Their stomachs will swell and burst, killing them.
Prevention/Solution
If you want to keep ants away from your property, try the following:
Put out cucumber and citrus peels where ants are active.
Put down a line of cayenne pepper, baby powder or coffee grounds. Ants won't cross over the line.
Keep tree limbs or bushes from touching the house.
Considerations
The home remedies you employ may not work immediately and could very well require several treatments. Only you can determine how long is too long when dealing with your ant problem. Should you find you can no longer be patient, a professional service is always an option.
Tags: pest control, away from, back nest, back nest feed, control company, have been, Home remedies