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Ants: Control the Invasion - April 2006
April 18, 2006
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Spring marks the arrival of warmer months ahead, but it can also usher in unwanted pests in your home.
Ants are one of the most common household pests and one of the most difficult to control, says Steve Jacobs, senior extension entomologist at Penn State. “You usually find them in kitchens and bathrooms, areas you want to avoid using pesticides if possible.” By learning more about them and using a little integrated pest management, you can stop them in their tracks!
IPM is an environmentally safe, economical, and scientific approach to managing pests. IPM integrates knowledge of pest identity and biology with pest monitoring so that action, if needed, can be taken at just the right time. In addition, IPM uses a combination of management tactics that are more likely to be safe and effective.
According to Jacobs, there are many different types of ants, but the most common ones found in homes in Pennsylvania are pavement ants, honey or citronella ants, and carpenter ants. “Identification is key for your pest management strategy; if you have any questions about the type of ant in your house, call your local cooperative extension office for help with identification,” he says. Also check out the Pennsylvania IPM Program’s Pest Problem Solver at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/problemSolv.html.
Typically, pavement and honey ants are smaller and range in color from honey brown to black. Carpenter ants are larger (1/2 inch), darker and wingless. “All ants are social insects. They enter your home to find food, taking it back to their nest, which may be in or outside the home,” Jacobs explains.
Ants will enter your home through cracks in the walls or concrete, openings along windows and doors, or through plumbing pipes. “They love to feed on sweets, grease, oils and proteins, even other dead insects,” says Jacobs. “They are attracted by crumbs left on counter tops or on the floor, spills in cabinets sinks and on stoves, or on dog food left in bowls. They take the food back to their nests, leaving a trail behind.”
During certain times of the year, most species produce reproductives, winged male and female ants that leave the nest to mate and establish new colonies. When winged ants swarm in the home, their colony is likely to be located somewhere inside. According to Jacobs, winged ants can be distinguished from termites by their shorter hind wings, elbowed antennae and narrow “waist”.
According to Jacobs, the first step in getting rid of ants is cleaning up any crumbs and spills, and not leaving pet food left in bowls over night. “Store food and garbage in wet containers. If you must leave pet food sit out, try placing the bowl in a larger, shallow pan filled with water and detergent. Also keep the sink drains clean and repair any water leaks, “ he explains.
Jacobs says you can also use soapy water sprays to kill any ants you see, or try using vinegar on a wet sponge to wipe up an ant’s trail so they can’t find there way back in the home. “Since killing foraging ants rarely solves the ant problem in the home, you can also follow the trail to locate their nest. Try caulking any holes or crevices, repairing screens in windows and doors. Also, keep the doors closed and replace weather stripping where necessary.” Cutting back braches from your home may also help prevent ants from gaining entry. You can also try sticky barriers, which are available commercially, and apply them to foundation walls, legs of tables, anywhere ant problems are brewing.
If all else fails and you need to use a pesticide, choose a less toxic formulation such as insecticidal soaps, dusts such as diatomaceous earth, or boric acid before resorting more toxic sprays. You can also try using ant baits that contain a pesticide mixed with an attractive food substance. Remember, even if you choose to use a chemical, it must be used in combination with other control measures to permanently eliminate pests! And always read and follow the directions and safety precautions on labels.
For more information on ants and other household pests and how to control them, see the Pennsylvania IPM Program’s Web site at http://paipm.org and click on “Home & Garden IPM”. You can also download fact sheets on ants and other pests from the Entomology Department at Penn State at Web site http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/fact_sheets.html.
The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or visit http://www.paipm.org. To view our archived news releases, see web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/newsrelease.html.