It’s nearly hard to quantify how many ants there are on the planet, although estimates put the amount at around 10 billion. And it can feel like a large number of those ants are crawling towards your property. Ants frequently come inside in search of food or a place to build a nest. Even the tiniest portion of food, such as crumbs from pet food, can attract swarms of ants.
Once ants have gained access to your home, they are unlikely to leave on their own. You may either have to learn how eliminate them by yourself or hire an expert pest control company www.propestcontrolgoldcoast.com.au to handle your ant problem. By keeping the ants outdoors and preventing them from entering your home, you may save yourself and your family a lot of trouble. Read along to find out how to keep ants out of your home.
1. Identify The Ants’ Species
Before anything else, it’s crucial to identify the types of ants species present. This will aid in determining the appropriate treatment strategy. Some of the common ants include:
Argentine ants They’re tiny and slender, measuring 2.6 to 3.2mm in length and dark brown in colour. They are South American ants that were first discovered in Western Australia (WA) in 1941. When crushed, they have a little oily, musty odour. Although Argentine ants do not have a sting, they will bite if provoked, however the biting is not painful.
Carpenter ants The Carpenter Ant is a huge ant species with a range of colours such as black, dark brown, and brownish orange. It has a length of 2.5-14mm. Carpenter ants have a wide range of habitats and can be found all around Australia. They can be found both indoors and outdoors, but choose to build their colonies in moist structures. Moreover, these ants are capable of causing structural damage to your property
Odorous house ants– The odorous house ant is a close relative of the ghost ant and the sugar ant. They are known infest home especially after a heavy rain. The odorous house ant ranges in colours from brown to black and can reach a size of 3.2mm.
2. Chalk
Chalk is one of the viable home remedies. They contain calcium carbonate that aids in preventing ants from entering your home. As a preventive measure, you can draw enough lines at the entry point. The powder interferes with the ants’ ability to detect other ants’ scents. In many circumstances, the ants will not cross the chalk line and will instead step back a little distance in order to catch up on the scent trail established by previous ants.
3. Lemons
Lemon is also an excellent natural ant repellent that you can use at home. It contains an acidic fluid that is harmful to ants and interrupts their path. Lay some lemon peels or squeeze a lemon at the entrance to your house. You can also make a spray. Here’s a simple recipe:
- In a pot, combine the lemon peels and enough vinegar to cover them.
- Wait until it’s steaming hot and turn off the heat
- Let it sit for a few hours, or overnight if possible.
- In the morning, filter the liquid into a spray bottle and sprinkle it anywhere ants have been spotted
4. Cornstarch
If you come across a huge number of ants, you can smother them with cornstarch. Pour cornstarch evenly over the entire colony of ants, then top with water. Another option is to vacuum instead of using water as it’s less messy. Properly dispose the vacuum bag right after.
5. Keep Things Clean
One of the safest ways to prevent ants from invading your home is to keep it clean. Ants will require water, food, and shelter in order to survive. Therefore, you should cut off their safe haven. Practice household cleaning at all times. Simple things like washing the dishes right away, sweeping and mopping the floors, and taking out the trash regularly could prevent infestation.
6. Seal The Cracks
Seal any cracks around doors, windows, or anywhere else they could get in. To make an ant-proof seal, use transparent silicone caulk on the outer walls. You may not be able to fill every crack, but focusing on the areas near windows and doors can offer you a significant advantage over intruders.
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