Know Your Enemy
Being invaded by a horde of ants can feel like an impossible situation, which is why it’s important to know everything possible about your enemy. Ants can crunch their way through everything from cereals and crackers to the structure of your home and the walls in your garden. But perhaps the most crucial thing to know is that these pesky insects are searching for food and water, so if you manage to modify the environment so that it no longer fits their needs, they will simply move on to somewhere else.
Where Do Ants Come From?
Many species of ant rely on human habitats for food and shelter and often come from nearby gardens and parks. The main reason why ants thrive in a home is because of the access to food and moisture. Furthermore, like most animals, ants need a dark and safe environment to live in, and a home fails to disappoint in this regard.
How To Stop Ants From Coming Into Your Home
While many ant control products exist on the market, using a spice like black pepper, which deters these insects, is an affordable and effective solution. The reason why ants are deterred by spices such as black pepper is because of how much they dislike the taste and smell of it. So by sprinkling it around doorways, window frames and other entry points, you can ensure that the ants have second thoughts about entering your home. In addition, you can mix the black pepper with other strong-smelling spices, such as cloves and rosemary, for a more long-term deterrent.
Natural Repellents
Aside from the use of spices, there are a number of natural solutions which can create an unpleasant environment for ants and discourage them from entering your home. For example, cinnamon can be used as a barrier because of its strong aroma. In addition, bay leaves and mint leaves are also good solutions. These plants contain terpenoids, which are compounds that produce a scent that insects generally do not like.
Preventing Ants From Entering The Home
Beyond using natural repellents as barriers, it is also important to actively take steps to prevent ants from entering your home, such as sealing any entry points, vacuuming regularly and not leaving any food sources in open containers. Keeping food in containers with tightly sealed lids can also prevent ants from sniffing their way inside.
Pest Control Companies
If you have a persistent ant problem, it may be important to contact a pest control professional. These experts are trained in identifying exactly where the ants are coming from and how to effectively eliminate them from the environment. Pest control professionals have access to a range of powerful chemicals and traps that can effectively combat an ant problem.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management is a process which involves making changes to the environment in order to deter and prevent ants from entering an area. The process looks at prevention, control and elimination as the three core components to eliminating an ant problem. This is a long-term solution as it requires changing the environment in order to make it inhospitable to ants, rather than relying solely on chemical deterrents.
Keeping Ants At Bay
Using spices such as black pepper to keep ants away can be an effective solution to eliminate the problem in the short-term, but an integrated pest management approach is the key to keeping these insects out of your home. As with any pest control solution, it requires a multi-pronged approach and an understanding of the ant’s behaviour and habits in order to create an environment in which they are unable to thrive.
Non-toxic Solutions
Using all-natural, non-toxic solutions, such as essential oils, is becoming increasingly popular when it comes to repelling ants from the home. The smell of essential oils, like peppermint and lavender, are known to have a strong scent that can help to keep ants at bay. Similarly, many people recommend the use of diatomaceous earth as it has a desiccating effect, which means it can dry ants out and cause them to die.
Repellent Sprays
There are also many commercially available repellent sprays that can help to keep ants away, such as those containing pyrodinium bahamense or neem oil, both of which can be effective. Repellent sprays work by creating a barrier which is unpleasant for ants and will prevent them from entering your home. These types of sprays are generally safe to use around humans and pets and are an effective way to deter ants.
Cultural Control
Cultural control is another method of ant control and involves taking certain precautions to prevent ants from infesting your home. This includes keeping the area clean and free from food crumbs and liquid spills, which can attract ants. In addition, routinely spraying the entry points of the building with a deterrent spray, such as those containing pyrodinium bahamense or neem oil, is also a way to keep ants away.
Floating Barriers
Floating barriers are another method that can be used to keep ants away from your home or garden. These barriers involve covering the ground with a layer of oil which creates a barrier that will prevent ants from crossing. The oil will prevent the ants from getting to their food sources by blocking their scent trails. This method is relatively easy to apply, however, it is important to be mindful of the environment when using this type of barrier as it can be hazardous to other animals.
