Get Rid of Outdoor Ants
Ants are one of the most dominant insect species on earth next to cockroaches. Ants have been able to survive through pollution and floods. Ants are not always pests as they do eat the larvae of mites, fleas, spiders and more. Ants' natural enemy is the termite--when ant colonies are formed around the perimeter of a house, they may be preventing termites from entering. Not all outdoor ant species will invade a living environment, yet when ants do invade there are some simple approaches to removing them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Get Rid of Outdoor Ants
1. Determining what kind of ants you are dealing with can be difficult. Some ant species are attracted to sweets, while others are attracted to meat and greasy substances such as pet food. Ants will leave an invisible trail that has a lingering odor for re-detection of the food they find. To avoid tempting the ants, remove all food items and clean all surfaces thoroughly.
2. Caulk any openings into the home that the outdoor ants are using as an entrance. Look for small holes and cracks near doors and windows. A quick walk around a home during the spring time is a good way to detect ant invasions.
3. Placing sticky traps around the home is one option. However, cleaning all surfaces and removing the food source is still necessary. Once the queen ant realizes worker ants are no longer returning back to the nest, more worker ants will be produced, resulting in a continuous invasion.
4. Spray a mixture of dish washing soap and water onto the ants. The mixture is not highly toxic to humans, yet will kill the ants on contact. Other mixtures that work include a mix of lemon or orange juices and rinds with water. The citric mixture is chemical free, yet will also kill ants on contact.
5. Placing natural deterrents near a door or opening can cause ants to avoid entering the home. Lavender blossoms, crushed mint and cinnamon will make ants avoid entering. Tansy and peppermint can be planted outdoors near garbage cans to deter ants as well.
6. Enjoying an outdoor picnic can be difficult with ants swarming the food. Using small bowls of water, place each picnic table leg into the water. Ants cannot swim and will not be able to climb onto the table.
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