Organic Pest Control: Getting Rid of Ants

Even the cleanest of homes can be invaded by ants. They enter the house through seemingly invisible entry points and find their way to your spotless kitchen, bathroom and even your bedroom. If you have treated one room for pests, chances are they will seek out other rooms in search of food.

Traditional chemical pesticides can be effective in killing ants, but they are not always safe to use, particularly in the kitchen. Nor are they safe to use around pets and children. Although all pesticides, (including the organic ones) should be kept away from pets and children, chemical pesticides are far more harmful than the organic ones.  Source: Beyond Pesticides

There are effective organic alternatives to traditional ant control methods and I have personally tested out those mentioned here, but first it's good to know something about the enemy.

There are over 22,000 species of ants that have been discovered all over the world. Ants are considered to be social insects that are highly organized. They live in colonies. Unless you live in Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland, or in remote parts of the Hawaiian Islands, ants are your neighbors. Clever little creatures, ants have adapted to most every ecosystem on Earth.

Ant colonies consist of a Queen (usually just one, who eats, mates and lays eggs); some fertile males called "Drones" and an army of sterile females, called "Soldiers" or "Workers Ants" who gather food and protect the colony. Australian Meat-Eater ants have an age-related hierarchy where they take on different roles at different ages, but the roles are the same as in other colonies.

The Worker/Soldier ants are the ones that make their way into your home in search of food and water. You can thwart the invasion of just about every species of ant organically, by first following these standard rules:

* Eliminate standing water. Ants, as well as mosquitoes and termites, are attracted to moisture.

* Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Ants are smart and they use these branches to get into your home.

* Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Oftentimes pests crawl into your home through the tiniest spaces.

* Do you store firewood and building materials next to your house? Pests love to build nests in stacks of wood so if you do, the ants will surely find it.

* Use a spackling paste to plug up cracks and holes inside your home. If you already have ants, you know where to find them.

This Hub focuses on getting rid of ants inside your home. To destroy an ant mound in the garden (or anywhere on your property) see my Anthill Tip at the end of this Hub...but first we'll look at organic ant traps.

It's not always easy to find the source of the problem, i.e. the ant nest. Following the ant trail back to the nest is difficult especially if you live in a high rise building. Ant traps are effective because they take the tainted food you leave for them back to the nest. When the queen ingests the poison, she dies and so does the colony.

Follow the Recipes below, but first determine the type of ant that is invading your property.

Most ants are attracted to sugar, but many species of ants, like those tiny black ants, are grease and protein lovers.

Your Local University Extension offices can tell you what type of ant is invading your property and whether they are attracted to sugar, grease/protein or both. Extension Offices offer answers to many questions about plants, insects, animals and other natural resources in your area. Find your local University Extension Office HERE.

This Recipe is For Grease and Protein Loving Ants such as Big-headed ants, Little black ants and Pavement ants. It comes from the "Field Guide for the Management of Structure Infesting Ants".

Mix in a bowl -
* 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) peanut butter
* 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) honey
* 3/4 teaspoon boric acid

Cut up drinking straws into 3-4" pieces and stuff them with a prepared mixture of peanut butter, honey and Borax. Buy a box of "20 Mule Team Borax" (a laundry additive) at the supermarket. Note - The Borax is not a chemical, but it can be toxic to humans and pets if large amounts are ingested. It is generally considered to be not much more toxic than table salt.

Fill each straw with the bait mixture. I use a wooden skewer stick to fill the straws. Put a small amount of the mixture over the straw opening and wipe the stick across the opening several times. The mixture will slowly seep into the straw. (don't use those skinny straws or it will take forever).

Keep out of reach of children and pets.

For ants that prefer sweets such as Pharaoh ants, Odorous house ants and Small honey ants:

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of honey and 1/2 teaspoon of boric acid (Borax). Place the mixture into a very small bottle (like a travel size bottle) with the lid off. Like the protein-loving ants, these ants will carry the mixture back to the colony and give it to the queen. She will love it,.. but not for long.

Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Place the bait traps under the sink, behind the toilet or any place ants invade. You can also place them outside doors and windows. Do not place the traps on counter tops or anywhere that you prepare food. Baits are the most effective way to manage an insect invasion, but allow at least 2 weeks for it to work. It can take longer depending upon the species of ant and the size of the colony invading your home. Do not use any other sprays or insect deterrents during your baiting period. If you kill the ants before they take the bait back to the nest, you'll defeat your purpose.

One advantage to the traps is that you can easily learn which holes, cracks and crevices are entry points for ants. Once the activity stops, seal those cracks with Spackle.

Some outdoor ants such as Fire Ants are a real hazard. If you have ever stepped on a Fire Ant hill you know why. I've done it more than a few times! The bites are excruciating and the welts last for months. If you are fortunate enough to locate an outdoor Fire Ant nest, there are two effective products that will get rid of these ants as well as many other ant species.

Aspartame

To kill off ants at the source you can use the artificial sweetener - Aspartame, more commonly known as Equal and NutraSweet.

Sprinkle three packets of Equal or NutraSweet on the largest ant mound. After 3 or 4 days you will notice that the number of ants declines. After a week, sprinkle another packet on the mound. By the end of the second week, the ants will be gone. Although many ant species move their mound when they are attacked, Aspartame seems to kill the colony. No new mounds will form near the original one.

If you regularly use Equal or NutraSweet in beverages, on cereal, fruits and other foods, or if you drink a lot of diet soda, you may want to rethink your intake of Aspartame. The product is highly controversial although it is FDA approved.

Turmeric

This asian herb; - an essential ingredient in Indian Food is also a great organic deterrent for ants. Although it does not kill them, the ants will move their nest far from that location. Just sprinkle a good dose of the bright yellow/orange Turmeric powder at the entrance to the nest and into the opening, Sugar-loving pharaoh ants hate the stuff.

Puree of Orange Peel

Another organic method of destroying an ant mound is to puree orange peels and to mix it with orange juice. Pour the mixture over the ant mound. I haven't tried this one, but supposedly the acid in the orange peel is toxic to ants.

Diatomaceous Earth

It maybe a mouthful to say, but this sandy-textured mix of organic dried and ground bones is a great non-toxic deterrent to ants. Diacomaceous Earth acts like jagged pieces of glass, scratching the insect's waxy outer shell and causing death by dehydration. Spread it over and around the ant hill. Reapply after rain.

Diatomaceous Earth is really a marvelous organic product as it also kills larvae (such as grubs) and it can be used as a safe dusting powder for dogs, cats and other animals with fleas, ticks, lice and other external pests.

Although not as effective as ant traps, you can kill ants on contact organically with a spray of Windex cleaner or plain white vinegar.

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