Natural Ant Killer
Ants can be pesky, and can ruin the quality of life within your home. Although there are a lot of commercial pesticides you can buy in supermarkets and from dealers, there are natural ways you will be able to remove ants from your home without suffering from the harmful effects of chemical-based pesticides. This article discusses the three types of ants that are commonly found in households, as well as five natural ways to get rid of them.
Black Ants
These ants are small and are either black, jet black, or dark brown in color natively found in the United States. The worker ants are the smallest, with each of them measuring only about 1.5 mm in length. The queens reach to as long as 4 mm. They usually reside in industrial and urban surroundings, but can also be seen inside the home in dark spaces such as cracks in walls and floors. They can also be seen in gardens, rotting wood, and under stones.
Diatomaceous Earth under the microscope
image by JR vaxon42
Flying Ants
Most ants are wingless, but at some parts of the year, there might be swarms of winged ants appearing. Often called alates, reproductive, or swarmers, their distinguishing features are their thin waists, elbowed antennae, and small wings. If found inside homes, they have most likely already established their colony somewhere within the area.
Fire Ants
These ants are distinguished by their reddish color, and measure about 1.6-5 mm in length. This type of ant is considered very dangerous and would need immediate attention should you find worker ants in your home. The stings can be quite painful, and sometimes fatal to some humans who experience severe reactions such as excessive itching, nausea, or sweating.
Learn more about Fire Ants here.
Natural Pesticides
If you suddenly find black ants, flying ants, and fire ants swarming in certain parts of your home, the first instinct is to get a pesticide with the strongest formula to make sure you kill these insects. However, using chemical-based pesticides can be harmful not only to you but also to your pets, children, and other family members who might inhale it. For this reason, you might want to try using the following natural pesticides:
Dish soap and water
Mix one part dishwashing soap and two parts water in a water bottle. Shake to mix the solution well. Spray the mixture over a line of ants. This will cause the ants to suffocate and die. You can wipe away the dead ants using a wet cloth.
Vinegar and water
Ants do not like vinegar, which is what makes it a great ingredient for your natural pesticide. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Directly spray the solution onto the ants. Wipe up the ants using a wet cloth and dispose.
Lemon juice solution
Hate the smell of vinegar? You can use lemon juice as an alternative. Ants are also allergic towards citric acid, so you can use this as an ingredient in your pesticide spray. Create a solution by mixing 3 parts water and 1 part lemon juice. Use as you would an all-purpose spray.
Diatomaceous earth
One effective insecticide that won’t do harm to humans and pets is diatomaceous earth. It is made by grounding fossilized diatoms until it becomes powder. This powder can be sprinkled around the perimeter of one’s home, usually on windowsills and baseboards. Although non-toxic, it is still advisable to wear masks when using it.
Boric acid
If you want a completely natural ingredient for killing ants, boric acid is the natural insecticide for you. Ants will ingest boric acid, poisoning and killing them in the process. It comes in powder form and is either white or blue in color.
Make sure to prevent children and pets from gaining access to areas you have sprayed and laid your natural ingredients on. Make sure to clean up afterwards and repeat the process as needed.
A video showing how to use a Natural Ant Killer
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Learn more about the biology of ants from this education resource.