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DON’T PANIC ABOUT ANTS

By: Tracey Liao Van Hooser   |   October 18, 2021

With all the dropped Halloween candy, the sweetness of the holidays can invite some unwelcome guests into your home—ants. If you see these creepy crawlers, don't panic, because YardSmartMarin has all the answers to your questions about them.

 

Q: I’ve seen ants outside. Is that a problem?

A: Not necessarily.  They can do some good things in your yard, such as:

• Eat dead insects and bring decaying material into their underground tunnels, creating fertilizer.
• Aerate the soil like earthworms. Aeration is great for soil health and beneficial for plant roots.
• Serve as an important food source for birds, lizards, and other members of our ecosystem.

Q: But, are outside ants ever a problem?

A: Yes! Outdoor ants can sometimes be cause for alarm. Look out for the following:

• Ants clustered around aphids or other sap-sucking insects. These ants are likely “farming” the aphids, enjoying the honeydew these insects secrete and protecting aphids from natural predators. In this case, the ants are actually an indication of an aphid problem. Learn how to manage aphids here.
• Carpenter ants. These ants can damage your home. Learn how to identify them, prevent an infestation, and eliminate an existing colony.
• If you think you're seeing ants, make sure they are not actually termites. This visual will help you tell the difference.

Q: Yuck, I just discovered ants in my house! What do I do now?

A: Ants are definitely a pest when they are inside! First, let’s talk about what NOT to do:

• Don’t spray insecticide in your yard.
  •  Insecticidal sprays kill a wide variety of insects (including the good ones!) and can pollute our waterways. Always use a targeted approach for pest management to avoid unintended consequences.
  • The perimeter treatments commonly offered by pest control companies are ineffective. These sprays only kill the foraging ants and cannot eliminate the colony or queen.
  • Occasionally, outdoor spraying can actually encourage ants to stay in your home.
  • Your kids and pets probably play in the yard. Why risk exposing them to the chemicals in a treatment that doesn’t even work?
•  Don’t spray insecticide in your home.
  • Insecticides only kill the ants they touch. You can get rid of just as many ants by simply wiping them up.
  • If used near bait traps, the spray will actually repel ants away from the bait.
  • Insecticides are poison. Don’t expose your children or pets to these dangerous products.

Q: OK, so what should I do when I see ants in my house?

A:  The first step is to spray any ants you see with soapy water or a multi-purpose cleaner. Then simply wipe them up with a paper towel. It is important to remove the scent trail that would encourage other ants to follow the path into your house. This may be all you need to do to rid yourself of the infestation!

 

Q: I’ve wiped them all up but more keep coming…

A: You may need to use baits to eliminate the queen and the colony. There are a variety of indoor and outdoor bait options available (click here and scroll down to “Baits”).

 

Q: Any general tips to prevent ants from coming into my house?

A: Ants come inside seeking food or water when it’s dry and seeking shelter when it’s wet. Here are some ways to prevent an infestation:

• Seal cracks and crevices with caulk, petroleum jelly, or tape.
• Fix leaky faucets or pipes (you’ll reduce your water usage too!).
• Check that the weather-strip around your doors is in good shape.
• Don’t allow mulch, plants, or tree limbs to touch the foundation, walls, or roof of your home. (This is also sound advice for reducing fire risk and rodent damage!)
• Clean up food crumbs or spills immediately.
• Keep especially attractive treats like pet food, sugar, and honey in sealed containers.

Just remember: don’t panic about ants! You can manage them, safely and effectively. 

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