Did you ever have a problem with ants? Maybe encountered them inside your house? It can happen sometimes so here are some tricks on how to get rid of them.
How to get rid of ants?
Ants are eusocial insects which form colonies that range in size from a couple of dozens individuals to highly organized colonies that occupies vast territories of millions of individuals. Very well organized, hard working and with a keen sense of adaptation, ants thrive in multiple environments also due to their ability to solve complex problems and communication.
Many human cultures use ants in cuisine, medication and rites. The majority of ant species are garden dwellers that do more good than harm—such as improving soil’s structure or controlling damaging pests. Ants are very agile when it comes to exploiting resources and this may bring ants into conflict with humans as they can damage crops and invade buildings.
As beautiful as they may be in their natural environment, it’s very difficult for us to accept them in our homes. They are annoying and they can, sometimes, spread unwanted bacteria.
Why do ants come inside the house?
Ants are well known for gathering food supplies. We can think of them like a cleaning crew, except we don’t want their help. During the summer season is most likely to notice ants inside the house, because insects are more active in the warmer months. They occasionally come for water and, in this case, you will notice them in the humid parts of the house. If they search for food, it is most likely to find them in the kitchen or around any crumbs forgotten on the floor. Heavy rains can also cause ant nests to flood and force them to relocate to nearby buildings, such as your house.
5 steps to get rid of ants
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Ants are very small creatures and can enter homes through any cracks. In order to prevent this from happening, seal windows, doors and wire access points. Keep things clean of crumbs and store the foods in sealed containers.
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Borax is a multitasking white powder, a naturally occurring mineral and there are multiple recipes, both cheap & fast, to use around the house.
- Vinegar is the most handy weapon when it comes to getting rid of ants. Because of its strong smell, it repels naturally the ants. All you have to do is spread it on the surfaces where ants were spotted.
- Coffee Grounds – Ants are extremely susceptible to caffeine because they lose their scent trails. This method has results in time, but after a while you’ll notice a decrease of the ants population.
- Professional Pest Control – In order to have an effective treatment and in case the ants have developed nests inside or around your house, you need to leave it to the professionals.
Cover photo by hybridnighthawk on Unsplash