•Ants live in colonies and one class within the colony is the worker who is also the gatherer.
•Here are some of the home remedies you can integrate:
Image: GARETH JONES
In a hot dry season, expect ants in your habitat as they look for moisture and food to survive.
When trying to get rid of ants, it is helpful to first have a basic understanding of how they live and thrive.
Ants live in colonies and one class within the colony is the worker who is also the gatherer.
Workers make up approximately 10 per cent of the settlement and they must go out, find and collect food then bring it back to feed the rest of the group.
When you spot them, they are mainly looking for two things: food and water. But if it is also cold and dumps outside, they also like to look for shelter.
Here are some of the home remedies you can integrate:
Ingredients
- Vinegar
- ½ Vinegar and ½ Water
- ½ Cider Vinegar and ½ Water
- One of these essential oils: Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel Extract plus water per spray bottle.
- Liquid Dish Detergent. Fill about 1 tablespoon of detergent and fill the spray bottle with water.
A scientific fact you ought to know is that ants leave a scented trail for each other so they can easily find their way back to the food source.
These trails are visible and invisible to human eyes, but they can follow the trails with ease.
Washing away these trails will confuse them and make it more difficult to find their favourite places.
According to Science Daily, the type of nutrition they look for is either sugar or protein, it all depends on what the needs of the colony are at the time.
Step 1: Find what they are looking for and set up bait
First, determine if the ants in your house are after sugar or protein by leaving a sample of each bait out and see which ones they go for.
Once you determine what they are hungry for, set out to solve the problem.
If it is sugar:
Method 1: You will need at least 2 tablespoons of Boric acid (borax) and jam or honey to make a paste a place it on a piece of paper in or on a covered container with holes.
Method 2: Mix 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, and 2 tablespoons of Boric acid. Mix and place in small containers around the house.
If they have attracted to protein mix 2 tablespoons of Boric acid and peanut butter or Bacon grease.
Remember that Boric acid is toxic and can be harmful if swallowed. Be careful if you have children or pets around.
For best results always lay out a fresh batch daily and spread them around in areas where you observe regular activity and near their points of entry.
Change your method as needed.
If the ants are not attracted to either of the traps, you can reduce the amount of boric acid used until they start feasting on the bait.
Step 2: Use natural repellents
Putting natural repellants in their nests like cinnamon, black pepper, bay leaves, cloves, salt, or used coffee grounds and filling crevices and cracks they come from with vaseline will physically block their entrance.
If it is a cold season, ensure you keep dry foods (like flour, cereal, sugar, and oats,) in air-tight containers.
Take out garbage regularly and wash out all packaging and pop bottles before putting them in the dust bin.
Step 3: Use detergent
Mix in a little liquid dish detergent and spray on the trail and countertops. This will be a strong repellent.
Spraying vinegar on the ground around the dwelling can help too.