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Depending on the species of indoor ant, a sweet bait is the preferred method to kill them. Ants leave a scent trail from the food source back to the colony. Baits will be taken back to the colony and, depending on the size of the colony, will be eliminated in several days to several weeks. It is important to maintain a fresh supply of bait until they are all gone.
Use an insecticide along the exterior foundation of the home in early spring. Seal small cracks and entry points where possible. Remove any food sources and place in the trash outside the building.
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Ants are some of the most notorious household pests throughout the country and the world. Ants are found on every continent except Antarctica, and according to a study published inPNAS, may make up as much as 25% of Earth’s entire animal biomass. Needles to say, there are a lot of ants, and they are extremely successful at what they do. This success is partly because of their sophisticated social organization and the various defense mechanisms that they employ. If we hope to be able to control the ant population around our homes and yards, it is important to understand what makes ants so prolific and learn effective methods of prevention and elimination. This Ultimate Guide to ants will tell you everything you need to know to start winning the war on this disruptive pest.
© AntWeb.org, via Wikimedia Commons
Pharaoh Ants: This species of ant is very small, usually only around 2 mm long. They are typically yellow or light brown, sometimes almost translucent. They like to eat greasy foods, dead insects, starches, and sugary substances. Pharaoh ants are a major pest in most types of buildings, but can also be a serious health risk in hospitals due to spreading disease. Pharaoh ants will nest in walls, under floors, and especially in humid areas near food. One behavior typical of Pharaoh ants is how they propagate their colony. Since there are many queens, they will break off into fragment colonies. This process is called budding. Budding makes it difficult to get rid of them because if they get stressed due to chemical means of extermination, they will often just split the colony.
Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA): These ants might not be the most common household pests, but they are among the most notorious, causing billions of dollars to be spent on prevention and damages yearly. RIFA are native to South America, but they can thrive in many environments. They are attracted to electricity, so they can actually destroy machinery and electrical boxes. RIFA are also a major agricultural pest, damaging crops like soybeans, cabbage, citrus trees, corn, cucumbers, etc. Red fire ants are venomous, and their sting can cause pain, burning, swelling, and even on very rare occasions death.
