Do you have a sugar ant infestation? If so, you're not alone. They're attracted to sweets, and they can swarm your kitchen in no time.
If you're looking for ways to eliminate sugar ants, you've come to the right place.
In this detailed guide, we will teach you how to get rid of sugar ants for good.
We'll cover everything from identifying the ants to using natural and chemical-based treatments.
So read on and say goodbye to your sugar ants woes!
Ants have a wide range of tastes; however, they are frequently sweet-seekers, grease-eaters (also known as protein ants), or everything eaters.
They are also known as odorous house ants.
In the United States, any ant that is sweet-seeking is referred to as a “sugar ant."
It's easy to mistake U.S. "sugar ants" for the real thing: banded ants, which are found almost exclusively Down Under.
The only similarity between the two is their proclivity for sugary stuff.
Do sugar ants bite? No, they do not pose a real threat to people with open wounds.
"Sugar ants" is a blanket term for various types of ants--some that live outdoors but come inside to eat sugar, as well as others that stay indoors and will gladly invade your home.
Sugar can be a little tricky! Female ants can reach up to 4 – 4 mm. Although small, these ants are important pests in all continents.
The house sugar ants carry two legs with large antennae. This antenna is highly sensitive, detecting air currents and air smells.
In the presence of antennas, these ants can identify themselves and signal danger, and get in anthills or for food.
When an Ant is lost from the antenna it cannot sense information. Workers commonly seen at homes do not carry wings to avoid confusion.
See Also: How to Get Rid of Pavement Ants Naturally
Sugar ants are found on almost every continent except Antarctica. They had everything they needed to get to Asia on board a vessel.
So they got their own names – ship ants. These ants live in buildings near human bodies. Sugar ant flies love warmth.
So he resides confined to a heated house. It builds its anthills under the plaster and in gaps.
Sugar ants have a food preference based on sugar, sweets, jelly, jams, and bread products. A few people also ate food and water residues, garbage in a can, fish, and a few pieces of meat.
Even if swarms of bugs find breadcrumbs beneath the surface, they quickly surround them and drag them to their next anthill.
Sugar ants are small, but they can wreak havoc in your home if they're left unchecked. Here are a few signs that you might have an infestation in your home.
One of the first signs of a sugar ant infestation is an invasion of your food. Sugar ants are attracted to sweet things, so they'll often go for sugary foods like candy or cake.
They might also go for savory foods that have been left out, like half-eaten sandwiches to their sugar ant nest.
Either way, finding ants in your food is a sure sign that you have an infestation.
Sugar ants typically travel in colonies, so if you see a group of them together, it's likely that there are more where they came from.
These colonies can range in size from a few ants to hundreds of them, so it's important to act quickly if you notice one.
Sugar ant colonies will often build nests inside homes, so be on the lookout for small mounds of dirt or sawdust.
To detect ants, begin by listening to your walls. These types of ants are usually most active during the night time, so you may hear rustling noises as they create their nests.
Another way to tell if you have ants or termites is by knocking on your walls. If the wall used to be solid wood and now sounds hollow, there's a good chance you have an infestation.
Sugar ants burrow into the woodwork, leaving a trail of sawdust and shavings in their wake. Take time to carefully inspect whatever you sweep up when cleaning your floors.
If wood shavings are appearing and you can't determine the reason, an exterminator may need to be called.
They do not feed on wood in the same manner as termites do. Unfortunately, this does not prevent them from being extremely harmful.
Sugar ant species are attracted to moisture, so they'll often build their nests in damp areas like basements or crawl spaces.
If you notice any water damage or flooding in your home, be sure to check for sugar ant trails as well—you might be surprised at what you find!
If you notice any of these signs in your home, it's time to take action against the ant infestation.
These pests can quickly become overwhelming if they're left unchecked, so call an exterminator or take other steps to get rid of them as soon as possible!
If you have ever dealt with ants, you know how annoying they can be. These tiny pests are attracted to sweets and often make their way into our homes in search of food.
While they pose no threat to our health, these ants can be a nuisance. If you find them in your kitchen, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them.
Between their constant marching and their love of sweets, these ants can be a real nuisance, especially in the bathroom.
But there are a few things you can do to get rid of them for good.
Although ant baits that attempt to imitate food can be successful, they usually don't work alone for various reasons.
If you have odorous house ants in your car, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them.
If you want to get rid of sugar ants, the first step is to eliminate their food source. Here are 7 ways to do that:
The most important thing you can do to get rid of sugar ants is to eliminate where they get their food. These pests are attracted to sweets, so they'll be looking for anything sugary.
Be sure to clean up any spills or crumbs that might be attracting them. You should also seal up any cracks or holes where they might be coming in.
Store food in tightly sealed containers, and wipe down surfaces after cooking or eating.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is a natural substance that you can use to kill sugar ants. You can find it at most hardware stores or online.
Just sprinkle it around the perimeter of your home— paying special attention to entry points—and these ants will carry it into their nests where it will kill them. Just be sure to reapply after it rains.
You can also make a homemade ant bait using borax and sugar water.
Just mix equal parts borax and sugar water and put it in a container with some holes punched in the lid so the ants can get in but not out.
Then set the container near where you've seen the ant trails and wait for them to take the bait back to their nest where it will kill them all
Ant baits are more efficient, as they contain a luring-attractant along with the borax that kills the ants.
Boric acid powder is another effective way to kill ants. Just sprinkle it around areas where you've seen ant trails or along baseboards and other places where they might enter your home.
Be sure to keep children and pets away from areas that have been treated with boric acid powder.
Some essential oils—like peppermint oil, cinnamon oil, and lemon oil—can act as natural repellents for sugar ants.
Just mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz around areas where you've seen ant activity or along baseboards and other places where they might enter your home.
White vinegar is another natural repellent that can help keep sugar ants away. Just mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spritz around areas where you've seen ant activity or along baseboards and other places where they might enter your home.
Bay leaves can also help repel sugar ants. Just place some bay leaves near areas where you've seen ant activity or along baseboards and other places where they might enter your home.
If you're still seeing sugar ants after taking all of these steps, then it's time to call a professional pest control company like 24h Pest Pros to exterminate sugar ants.
Read Also: How to Get Rid of Ants in the Bathroom
Now that you know how to get rid of sugar ants, it's time to learn how to prevent them from coming back. Here are a few tips:
These are a great way to prevent ant infestations, you can keep odorous house ants—and other pests—out of your home for good!
The ant is killed by either sprinkling vinegar or diluted water with 50% vinegar and 50% water.
Diluted white vinegar can also be a disinfectant for the house to help prevent ants from entering.
Start with a sprayer filled with white vinegar, and baking soda to create a mixture. These products are safe for these ants and have a little chemical scent.
Alternatively, if you want an enjoyable smell, try using essential oils rather than baking soda or vinegar.
The best way to these ants is to figure out how they are getting into your house and block their entry.
You should also clean up any spills or crumbs immediately, as this will attract them. Finally, try using one of the methods above to kill them.
To conclude, getting rid of sugar ants can be difficult, but it is possible. By following the steps above and being vigilant, you can keep your home ant-free!
However, if you find that the ants are still coming back, it might be time to call a professional pest control company. Thanks for reading!
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