How to Improve Ant Control at Home By Targeting Colony Areas if Needed

May 18
09:27

2013

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

It's important to track down the ant colonies to identify the species and choose the right control. If you can find the ant colony early, you can typically prevent ants from causing serious damage to the home.

mediaimage

Ants usually live in wood or soil outside the house,How to Improve Ant Control at Home By Targeting Colony Areas if Needed Articles and only march into your house to gather food, particularly during the spring and summer. On the other hand, ants may live inside the house.To find an ant colony, place food such as jelly, honey, sugar or bacon where you have seen ants, and watch the ants that show up for dinner. They will typically create and follow the same route to and from their nest.

University of Kentucky extension entomologist Michael Potter recommends bait for most ants. The feeding ants take the bait back to the nest and feed the queen and the rest of the colony. Just don't spray ants with insecticides while bait is in use, even if ants appear to increase in number shortly after you set the bait. Spraying kills the ants that are bringing the poisoned bait back to their colony, and therefore defeats the purpose of the bait.

If you choose to use insecticides for ant controlinstead, focus on cracks, holes and gaps as close to the nest as possible. Here are some of the odd spots ants where you might find ant nests, and how to identify the ant colonies and control them.

In foundation walls

 Several types of ants may build nests in or around foundation walls. The most common are known as larger yellow ants, which rarely cause damage or eat human food. Pyrethrins and other spray insecticides are effective for getting rid of most foundation infestations.  

Under the concrete slab

If small ants are eating your meat, pet food, nuts and dead insects, you may be able to trace them to flooring cracks. If so, they may be living under the concrete slab.  University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension experts recommend baiting for ant colonies under concrete slabs.

Inside walls

Various ants live in wall cavities and under floorboards. Many ant colonies can be controlled with syrupy baits.

On insulation

Carpenter ants are among the ants that live in wall cavities, chewing lumber into sawdust and using the sawdust to help build their nests. However, they are also foam "carpenters," chewing up and reusing foam insulation. They can degrade both wood and insulation over time, so the University of Minnesota experts recommend finding carpenter ant nests and spraying insecticides directly into the nests.

In rotted window frames

 Rotted wood in window frames and similar spots provides an ideal home for acrobat ants and other ant species. If infestations are discovered in wood cavities, inject with powdered insecticides. It's also important to replace any rotted wood and get rid of the sources of rot and moisture.

Behind kitchen cabinets

Tiny grease ants may seem to appear out of nowhere and sneak into food containers. Rather, they are appearing out of tiny gaps and cavities in the kitchen, including spaces behind kitchen cabinets. Such nests can be difficult to find, but baits may work. Also, wipe up all greasy stains and try to eliminate or seal all attractive food sources, including oils, meats and cheeses.

Go to main page Ant Control Auckland for best reliable assistance