I’m a pest control expert – you can banish swarms of ants from your home using my three easy tips
A PEST control expert has told how ants could swarm your home if you don’t follow three simple steps.
Ants are known for craving food, water and shelter during the summer months and are have a particular liking for sugary substances.
The home becomes vulnerable from a small spillage of juice to a slice of cake and the experience is anything but pleasant.
But now experts from pest control company Rentokil have shared their tops on how get rid of pesky ants.
IDENTIFY THE ANT
Ants are just starting to raise their heads this time of year because of the temperature difference.
But before taking evasive action, it’s important to identify what sort of ants are invading your home.
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Although a line of swarming insects may appear to be a hoard of ants, you need to make sure that you’re dealing with ants and not another insect infestation.
And although treatment for these infestations vary from case to case, ants are one of the easiest to identify.
According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) the most common ants that invade houses are Black Garden Ants.
Recognisable by the dark brown colour, the species are 3mm to 5mm in length and are attracted to sweet foodstuffs.
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“They are highly organised social insects. It is the foraging worker ants that invade buildings in search of food,” the BPCA says.
“Some centrally heated blocks of flats may also be troubled by the much smaller tropical Pharaoh’s Ant, which prefers protein to sweet foods and has multiple – and often inaccessible – nests within the building structure.
They added: “Ghost Ants are becoming more common in heated buildings. These are a similar size to Pharaoh’s Ants and are pale coloured with a dark thorax and head – control must then be left to professional operators.”
DIY METHODS
After identification, it’s important to see if you can solve the issue yourself.
The most common practices to get rid of ants include the use of white wine vinegar and strong scents.
While using Vaseline as a barrier to points of entry, cucumber peel and decorator caulk are also recommended.
The BPCA advise trying to find out where the ants are coming from by locating their nests.
“Firstly find the ants nest entrances which can be located by watching the ants moving back and forth from nest to food” they say.
“Many people try to reduce ant numbers by pouring boiling water directly into the nest. However this will not necessarily control the nest completely and often the bulk of the nest will migrate to a new location.”
After you have located the ants entrance to your home, it’s time to lay down pest control products.
The BPCA say: “Some pest control products cause the ants to destroy their own nests, for example, if the liquid solution is sugar-based bait.
“The ant workers are attracted to the bait and carry the insecticide back to the larvae and queen.”
SEEK A PROFESSIONAL
If DIY solutions fail and your home has a recurring ant infestation problem, then it may be time to consider the services of a professional.
Experts recommend that you look for companies with professional certifications, licences, online reviews or testimonials.
The BPCA say: “If you use any amateur pesticide products, you must follow the label instructions, as this is the law.
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“We also recommend seeking advice from a professional pest controller if you need help to address a serious infestation.
“All BPCA members have the correct training and equipment needed to safely deal with an infestation of ants.”