Ant Removal and Control

Archive for the ‘Ant Removal’ Category

Since having an ant infestation can be a major issue, it makes sense to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent them. Once the ants have invaded your home it will be almost impossible to remove them using safe and natural methods. You will most likely need to resort to potentially harmful sprays and chemicals. One of the best ways to prevent an ant infestation is through the use of ant traps.

You will need to determine which type of ant you have in your home or area, since different traps are specifically designed to attract a certain type of ant.

A Look at Traps Different types of bait are used in the various different ant traps on the market. A good trap is capable of destroying the entire ant colony. Ant traps are usually small and are very attractive to those ants looking for food for their colony. They will take the bait and bring it back to feed the queen of the colony. The poison in the bait will kill the queen, making it impossible for the colony to continue. You can use ant traps both inside and outside your home and they will prevent ant infestations as long as the bait is not depleted.

How Bait Works It is the bait that makes an ant trap effective. To accommodate the ever changing nutritional needs of the ants bait is usually a combination of sugars, proteins, fats, oils, and carbohydrates. The bait will also contain an ingredient designed to kill the queen ant, most often borax.

Benefits of Ant Traps Ant traps have become increasing effective thanks to better bait products. The bait is designed to last for a long period of time, but quickly kill the queen once it is consumed. The bait of modern ant traps is very attractive to ants, but will not release odors which can be offensive to humans

Ant traps are a great way to stop the ant problem before it occurs. They allow you a long term solution which is easy to apply and very effective.

Around the world today there is thought to be over 1200 species of ants. Colors usually vary between red and black and lengths between 2-25 millimeters. While there are some exotic species that may be more colorful or flamboyant, there are four or five main species that people can expect to find invading their homes. These main types are pavement ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, pharaoh ants, and argentine ants.

Pavement ants are most likely the most popular ants. They are usually between 1/16″ – 1/8″ long. Carpenter ants are another very popular species. These ants love to make their home in hollowed out wood. Fire ants are typically around 1/8 long and can be anywhere from red to black in color. They are capable if biting and delivering a dose of venom which can cause burning, blisters, and infections. Pharaoh ants are typically 1/8 or less in length and light brown in color. The most common place to find argentine ants in the southern parts of the United States. They are usually either dark brown or black.

Preventing Ants
A powerful pesticide is probably your best bet if you have a fire ant infestation. These ants will attack animals and have been known to be highly aggressive. It is wise to locate the nest or colony and inject pesticide there as well to destroy the queen.

Sprays are not effective on argentine ants, as they only cause the colony to break up into many new smaller colonies which will grow. Bait is the best tactic to use with this type of ant. While baits are more slow acting, they will eventually cause poison to be spread throughout the colony and eliminate the ants. Bait is also highly effective for use with pharaoh ants.