How To Successfully Eliminate Ants In Your Home

Ants of many different types are found throughout the country. They are one of the most advanced and successful insect groups. Ants are social insects living in colonies. Each colony has different types or castes of ants. The castes include, depending on the colony, soldiers, workers, queens and males.

Once a colony is mature or very large, male and female winged reproductives are produced which may mate in the nest or during swarming.

When do ants swarm?

Ants swarm at various times throughout the year. After mating, the male soon dies. The fertilized female or queen seeks a suitable nesting place and deposits a small batch of eggs. The eggs then go through complete metamorphosis. The hatched larvae are cared for by the female until they pupate and finally emerge as adults.

Development from egg to adult usually takes about two months, but varies with different species and climatic conditions. These new individuals are wingless, sterile female workers. The workers of some species may be quite different in size or even appearance. These workers then take over the tasks of foraging for food, expanding the size of the nest, and caring for the next group of larvae.

Do ants die off in the winter?

The ant colony remains intact through the winter by hibernating. However, if a colony occurs indoors, the individuals may remain active all year around.

Ants are bothersome to people for several reasons and become annoying when they invade homes during foraging. Some species nest in wood and may do structural damage. Some ants can bite or deliver a painful sting.

How to get rid of ants in your home?

Ants have a high moisture requirement and nest where moisture is readily available and they may travel considerable distances to obtain it.

Step 1: Make sure there’s no water available for the ants

A basic way of eliminating ants can be done by eliminating their water source. Any roof damage or exterior damage to the house that results in water leakage should be cleaned up a quickly as possible and can have significant effect in quickly eliminating an ant invasion. Eliminating other water sources is beneficial as well. Simple things like making sure there’s no water in a sink or in a cat or dogs eating utensils can help eliminate an ant invasion.

When non-chemical control methods are not enough to get rid of the ants, the next step is required.

Step 2: Eliminating ant colonies with bait

Controlling ants through bait formulations rely on the routine exchange of liquid food by ant colonies. This has the added benefit that chemical concentrations are designed to be very low and therefore less harmful to people.

In fact, for this treatment to work, chemical concentrations have to be low enough as to not be lethal to the worker ants who are transferring the bait. Once it’s successfully shared, it moves from the worker ants to the female reproductives in the nest and then the larvae. As the bait is transferred to female reproductives it accumulates and ultimately results in a lethal quantity to eliminate the colony.

This treatment relies on the successful exchange of the bait through the worker ants. Worker ants gather and redistribute liquid carbohydrates and proteins gathered during foraging. Food sharing generally occurs for all foods, but especially carbohydrates. This may be because of the high energy requirements of foraging workers, or the demands of the developing larvae.

How to apply bait?

To treat indoors with a bait first start by locating the trails used by the ant colony. Then apply the bait in cracks and crevices around the areas where ants have been seen.

This method is also effective to treat near foraging trails on the outside.

Indoors baits last several weeks. Outdoors they don’t last as long due to the impact of weather conditions and also because of the consumption of non-target pests.

Proper sanitation conditions are necessary for baits to work. If proper sanitation methods are not followed then there are too many competing food sources for the ants to care about the bait.

Where to find foraging trails inside the house?

To find foraging trails inside the house start by looking around these common areas. Ants tend to come from wall voids below bathroom or kitchen sinks. They are there in search of food or water. Then check doors and windows as well as weep holes for them. They can also be found under items sitting on the ground including carpets.

Step 3: Eliminating ant colonies with spray insecticides

Most insecticides targeted at ants interfere with the functioning of the nervous system. Some disrupt energy production in the cell, while others influence the hormones that regulate development and molting, or alter the formation of the cuticle.

Inside your house these insecticides can be used as a spot spray or as a treatment for cracks and crevices. It is generally not recommended for them to be applied over broad areas. Typical areas to focus on are entry points for ants such as around water pipes, doors, windows and eaves. Also focus on feeding areas such as baseboards, corners, around refrigerators, cabinets, sinks and stoves.

It is particular effective when sprayed on ant trails or even ant colonies. If the nest can be identified you will see results quickly once you treat it. To find the nests, follow trails of foraging workers. Check under objects near the structure such as flower pots. If you find ants nesting in the soil, thoroughly drench the nest.

Outdoors also focus around the entry points around windows and doors. Other hotspots are usually patios, eaves and attic vents.

Other projects:

Ant elimination project for River Vale homeowner.
Mice and ant elimination in Demarest.

Learn more:

Where are all these ants coming from?
Termites and flying ants: What’s the difference?
How to get rid of flying ants?
How to eliminate ants inside your home.
Pest control tips: 13 secrets to bug-proof your home like a pro.
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