MAINTENANCE : Anti-Ant Maneuvers Can Keep Armies From Invading
Early fall often brings home an onslaught of tiny black or brown ants busily in search of food.
The cheapest and most permanent way to keep ants out of your home is to eliminate their access to foods that attract them, such as jams or jellies, sugar, crumbs and grease. Get rid of foods you will not use and seal the rest in airtight containers. Scrub all counters and shelves and keep them clean.
Ants live in colonies. They form a foraging path from the nest to the food supply. Look closely to find the path that they follow and, if possible, seal off the point of entry to the house with caulk.
If you choose to use insecticides, apply a residual household spray containing chlorpyrifos, diazinon or propoxur across the path to the nest. Also apply the spray around baseboards, windowsills, table legs, under sinks and in cracks.
Before using any insecticide, carefully read the instructions and precautions on the label. Don’t let insecticide get on food or on utensils and surfaces used for eating or cooking. Wash your hands and face thoroughly with soap and water after handling an insecticide.
To get rid of persistent ants indoors, place sweet-baited ant traps, available in hardware and grocery stores, on floors or in cupboards where you’ve seen ants. The ants will carry the poison back to their nest. Be sure to place the traps out of reach of children and pets.
Seal openings to your house, such as where utilities enter, with caulking compound. Clean well in corners, in cabinets and around pipes and plumbing fixtures. Keep trash outside in closed containers and clean clothing before storing it.
Outdoors, most ants nest in mounds or burrows, under slabs and stones, in cracks in cement or in dead wood. Follow the foraging paths to locate the nests and destroy them by pouring several gallons of boiling water into the entrances. Then stir up the soil and repeat the process. Or use a small hand duster to blow some powdered boric acid (such as roach powder) into nest entrances and into any cracks, crevices and wall voids where you’ve seen ants. You may also apply a dust of granular carbaryl or diazinon.
If you prefer organic ant repellents, scatter talcum powder, cream of tartar, borax, powdered sulfur or oil of cloves at entry points. Or plant mint around the house foundation.
Ants hate bay leaves. Leave a few on cupboard shelves. Crumble a few and sprinkle them on windowsills. If ants flock to your flour and sugar bins, place a couple of bay leaves inside; replace them every month.
You can also give the tiny intruders a fatal but non-chemical case of indigestion. In a small bowl, stir one-third cup of molasses, six tablespoons of sugar and six tablespoons of active dry yeast until the ingredients form a smooth paste. Coat strips of cardboard with the mixture or pour it in bottle caps. Then place them around infested areas.
