Sugar ants like to eat sugar and protein-rich foods, such as meats and dairy products. They also like any sugary or greasy food you may have in your cupboards, including syrups and jams.
Sugar ants
Several types of ants are attracted to sweet foods, including sugar ants. Sugar ants bite, and as their name suggests, they naturally invade your home, looking for food and drink, like candy, soda, fruit peels, and spilled drinks. If they manage to get into your home, you can expect to see them all over your countertops once they’ve settled in.
There are many ways to prevent sugar ants from entering the house:
Boric Acid Powder:
Boric acid powder (google search ‘boric acid’ online) is a good way to kill off sugar ants that have already invaded your kitchen. You can sprinkle it on their trails or nests outside. You don’t even need gloves when applying it!
- Create a trap by mixing equal parts borax and honey and pouring them into a jar lid lined with a thin strip of duct tape. Place the trap near their nests and trails, and they will go inside to feast on the sweet mixture and then wander out again. The borax powder inside will dry them out and kill them after repeated exposure.
- If you’re finding sugar ants in your bathroom (especially around the sink), use small pieces of soap or chalk to create thin lines leading to opposite corners of the room.
- The ants think one piece is another ant’s path, causing them to form zigzag patterns when exploring your bathroom.
- Keep all counters clear by wiping up any spills as soon as possible (sugar ants love greasy surfaces).
- Put away fruits and vegetables in airtight containers so they won’t attract ants.
- Rinse out jars and cans before putting them in the recycling bin or garbage; to make sure you don’t leave food scraps behind for ants. * Keep garbage cans tightly covered. * Put ant bait near areas where you find activity (outside walls, baseboards, etc.)
- Try one of these three recipes:
- Mix 1 part borax with 6 parts sugar
- Create a pasty mixture by mixing equal parts cornmeal or flour with honey
- Make your own sugar-based stick baits by melting sugar in water until it becomes syrup-like, then stir in Parmesan cheese. Clean up spills immediately so they don’t attract other bugs that could become prey for sugar ants. If you have pets, keep their food bowls clean too. Sometimes ants like to go where the food is, but they also like to get out of the hot sun. Try putting ant bait (see recipe #1) outside on your patio table or by the back door.
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Borax Powder:
- Ants don’t like strong smells, so you can try placing slices of lemon near problem areas inside and outside your house.
- If you find sugar ants in your yard or garden (walking along fence lines or trails), fill small mounds of dirt with borax powder. The ants will take some back to the colony and spread it around, which will eventually kill off all of them.* Also place any pet food dishes in elevated locations away from the ground.
- If you have a cat or dog, make sure their food is elevated as well.
- Make sure all your screens are secure to keep ants out of your house. Try placing sticky strips (like flypaper) near the areas where you find sugar ants. These work really well for killing little invaders and getting rid of them quickly:
1) Mix borax and honey with peanut butter until it forms a paste-like consistency
2) Pour boiling water over lemon peels and let them dry
3) To make some spicy traps that will deter sugar ants from entering your kitchen, add hot chili pepper flakes (not too much or they’ll burn!) into some baking soda and place in small jars with holes poked in the lids.
More Methods:
It is important to remember that if you have an ant problem outside, there might also be a few ants hanging around inside your house. No need for alarm! By taking steps to clean up both indoors and out, these little pests won’t become more than just a nuisance in the future. You may have in your cupboards, including syrups and jams. There are many ways to prevent sugar ants from entering the house: Try these home remedies for rid of your little visitors:
Make sure all your screens are secure and cover any gaps around doorways, windows and outlets. Keep kitchen and bathroom counters clear and clean at all times. If you have a cat or dog, make sure their food is elevated as well. Put away fruits and vegetables in airtight containers so they won’t attract ants. Don’t leave pet food sitting out overnight (it’ll also prevent cockroaches from hanging around). Keep garbage cans tightly covered. Fill small holes with steel wool to keep those tasty ants out! Try placing sticky strips (like flypaper) near the areas where you find sugar ants these work really well for killing little invaders:
- If sugar ants are coming from a crack or crevice in the wall, fill it with steel wool pads and then caulk over to seal.
- Try placing small piles of baking soda where you see sugar ants to deter them from entering another part of your home. Make sure all food is stored properly and sealed in containers.
- Put all pet food dishes on elevated surfaces away from the ground. Treat ant trails with boiling water, vinegar or lemon juice (be warned, this can often result in other bugs such as roaches moving into your apartment).
- Draw some chalk line across any trails to stop ants’ cold should they come back for more! Ants don’t like strong smells, so try placing coffee grounds, orange and lemon peels or chili pepper flakes in strategic areas. There are several natural home remedies for helping you get rid of those sugar ants:
You may have read in prevention magazine about preventing sugar ants, but say you already have an ant problem in your home? Well there are several remedies to try before you call in an exterminator. If sugar ants are coming from a crack or crevice in the wall, fill it with steel wool pads.
