With the arrival of spring, small ants scurrying around often appear at home. The most common in the European part of the country is the black ant. It is considered a garden, but it often settles in apartments. Appearing indoors, the insect multiplies rapidly.

How to get rid of ants in the house, why is it difficult to do, chemical and folk remedies, preventive measures - everything is described below.

Why is it so difficult to get ants out of the house?

The reasons why ants can appear in an apartment, in a house or in an ordinary cottage are varied:

  • the approach of winter (heat-loving insects prefer to build an anthill in a warm place);
  • unsanitary conditions in the room (often come from unclean neighbors);
  • bringing from outside (this small woodworm is often found in vegetables on the market, in seedlings / soil from the garden).

Ants in the house

Despite its tiny size, an ant nest can cause significant harm to humans and equipment:

  • any insect is a carrier of infection and pathogenic microbes;
  • ants in search of food are able to climb into any bag or package, while spoiling the food;
  • climbing inside, they are able to disable household appliances;
  • some species bite and are quite painful (for example, red or forest ant);
  • reproduce themselves rapidly and breed additional pests (aphids).

And the very neighborhood in a living room with these ubiquitous insects gives no one pleasure. Their number can grow to several thousand individuals in just one summer, and it is extremely difficult to fight them.

There are a number of reasons that complicate the process of complete elimination of insects:

  • ants are omnivorous. Any crumbs, poorly packed food, food leftovers on people's plates and dog bowls - everything goes to the food of the voracious ant. It is extremely difficult to make sure that even crumbs are not left in the kitchen;
  • a person sees only part of the family. They get food, and accordingly, only working individuals catch the eye of people. After their destruction, some of the insects still remain in the room;
  • Vitality. Some specimens are able to survive even after being treated with poison. And having survived, they build a new nest;
  • Able to carry an anthill if it is discovered by a person.

How to get rid of ants in your home

How to get rid of wasps in the house

To successfully breed ants, you need to find a nest. To do this, you can follow the behavior of the workers - they run along the paths indicated by the scouts. There are places in apartments and summer cottages, especially beloved by these insects. First of all, you need to check the joints of wooden panels, windows or frames, hard-to-reach areas under the bathroom or refrigerator, ventilation holes.

There are several ways to effectively fight ants in the house.

Chemicals

Spray can

The fastest way to get rid of annoying insects is to use various chemicals. On the market there are a wide variety of remedies for ants:

  • Spray can. It is recommended to use it when the exact location of the nest is known. The aerosol is sprayed directly onto it and the area around it. It has an instant effect. It is necessary to use the aerosol in strict compliance with safety precautions, since it is very toxic and has an unpleasant odor.
  • Spray. Aerosol analog. Differs in spray method.
  • Gels and drops.A viscous gel with a substance harmful to insects is applied to the path along which the workers run. Those, in turn, bring poison into the nest, infecting the rest of the anthill. You can also apply the gel around the perimeter of the room. Drops are a type of gel. This remedy has a delayed effect. The approximate term for the disappearance of the entire colony is a month.
  • Pencils, crayons, powders. The method of application and the result is similar to the use of gels. But the powdery substance sticks worse to the paws of insects. It is more often used as a prophylactic agent if a small amount of ants is noticed.
  • Microcapsules. The drug is soluble in water. The resulting liquid is sprayed into the space occupied by ants. Poisonous substances fall on the paws of insects and thus are carried to the entire colony.

Traps

The essence of the method is to lure as many insects as possible. There are several types of traps:

  • electrical. Murashi is killed by an electric current. The smell lures. The bait is inside the device;
  • adhesive. The essence of the trap is that the ant sticks and cannot get out;
  • poisonous. This is the most effective method, since it does not kill the insect immediately. The ant not only eats the poison itself, but also preliminarily carries it to the nest. This leads to the infection of the entire colony.

Ultrasonic scarers

Often the conditions do not allow the use of chemicals (for example, a small child, a pet, someone has an allergy in the house). In this case, ultrasound is recommended. The principle of operation of the device lies in the fact that the device emits sounds (waves of different frequencies) that cause discomfort to ants. The repeller operates within a radius of 200 m.

Ultrasonic scarers

Note! This method is often criticized as insufficiently effective.

Any of the ant control methods chosen must be accompanied by a thorough cleaning with a disinfectant. All cracks must be covered in order to exclude re-entry into the home.

If you are not sure that you will be able to cope on your own, it is best to call an exterminator. This method will also be effective if no nest is found. In addition to the private space, the specialist can handle the attic, basement and stairs.

Folk remedies for fighting ants

Hornets - how to get rid of them in the house

There are many ways and methods of protection from ants among the people. It is difficult to say which of the pest control products are most effective. The difference between natural recipes and chemicals is that the former often only repel insects.

Here are some popular recipes for destroying them:

  • It is necessary to take tomato tops, boil it. Then pour this broth on the ant's nest. Soap solution is used in the same way.
  • In places where ants appear, you can draw lines with chalk. The ants get confused and begin to zigzag.
  • The most specific method - large forest ants are brought into the room, which scare away smaller domestic counterparts. At the same time, they themselves do not remain in the house.
  • Mix sugar (3 tsp). boric acid (1 tsp) and boiling water (2 tsp). Apply the mixture to a cardboard, plate or cotton pad. This will be an excellent bait for intrusive insects. Instead of sugar, you can use honey, jam, or glycerin. Special balls can be glued from the finished solution. Boric acid is also mixed with minced meat. One drawback of this composition is that it is toxic to humans, so the acid is used in small quantities. The ant cocktail is only suitable for the next 48 hours. Next, you need to prepare a new bait.
  • Boil potatoes, mix three tubers with three eggs, add 1 teaspoon of sugar and a bag of boric acid. Roll up the balls and place them on the path.
  • Pour essential oils, coffee grounds on the paths along which the ants follow. You can add red and black peppers, garlic, parsley, cloves, bay leaves and other pungent-smelling ingredients.
  • Vinegar. In addition to the pungent smell, it is also very pungent, destroying the chitinous membrane of pests.If, for spraying on all surfaces in the house, vinegar must be diluted with water, then it is poured into the ant house undiluted.
  • Liquid ammonia is used along with vinegar. The principle of operation is the same. It is diluted in proportions: a bottle for 1 liter of water. For efficiency, the treatment is repeated for several days.
  • You can use medicinal chamomile by scattering it in places where insects accumulate.
  • If you dilute honey in water, the ants will want to taste the treat and drown.
  • Heat the water slightly, dilute a pinch of yeast in it, add sweet. Pour into containers and place in those places where they are very active.

Keep all food very tightly closed.

Getting rid of ants is much more excruciating than prevention.

Important! These insects should not be allowed to reappear in the house. The house should be cleaned and tidied regularly. Keep all food very tightly closed. Unwashed dishes should not sit in the sink. It is necessary to cover up all the cracks in the house (windows, baseboards, etc.)

Prevention

Ants with wings in the house - how to get rid of them

In order not to have to get rid of harmful insects for a long time and stubbornly, it is important to follow the preventive measures:

  • If there is a high probability of the appearance of ants, it is necessary to keep the kitchen clean: prevent the accumulation of food waste, take out the garbage more often, thoroughly rinse the trash can, and do not leave food, especially sweets, on the table overnight. The appearance of these bugs is preceded by a real reconnaissance action. A scout ant is exploring the area for food. Not finding anything edible, the ant will not lead the colony.
  • Regular wet cleaning can sometimes be replaced by preventive, that is, using chemical or folk remedies (so that insects are scared off not only by the lack of food, but also by odors that are unpleasant for them).
  • Any cleaning must be of high quality. It is important to wash not only the stove and sink, but also the pets' utensils, if any.
  • Even a tiny insect needs a crack to get inside. Sealing all cracks (not only in the kitchen, but also in other areas) will help prevent the emergence of ants.

It is sometimes helpful to listen to your neighbors' conversations. If some of them have uninvited guests, the risk that they will begin to spread to other apartments increases many times over.

Ways to prevent black ants from appearing are simple, yet effective, reliable and proven by life experience.