How to get rid of ants on your property using folk remedies

Ants (in Latin Formicidae) belong to the order Hymenoptera. These social insects make up three castes - males, females, and working individuals, which together form a family (colony). Such colonies usually live in anthills, which are located: in wood, in the soil and on the surface of the earth, under stones and in other places adapted for their life. Some species live in human homes.

When these insects spread en masse in a dacha, it is necessary to take effective measures to get rid of ants on the site once and for all. Otherwise, they can bring certain inconvenience and even harm to a person and his land.

Ants on the site: benefits and harm

It sounds a little strange, but ants can also provide benefits to summer cottages, since they feed not only on plant sap and sweet liquid - honeydew, which is secreted by aphids, but also on the larvae of harmful insects, thereby regulating their numbers in the garden. These insects also perform other useful functions. For example, they loosen the soil, increasing its aeration. This contributes to a significant improvement in its quality.

Female black ants have wings and a slightly enlarged abdomen

We can talk about harm when ants breeding in large numbers cause serious damage:

• By settling in country houses and outbuildings, they render food supplies unusable;
• It is harmful if ants help spread aphids, which have a detrimental effect on plants;
• Some ants spread viral and bacterial diseases that are dangerous to humans;
• In places where underground anthills are located, the acidity of the soil increases, which adversely affects the development of plants;
• When insects settle in garden beds, the growth of planted vegetable crops is inhibited;
• Massive colonies often use ripe berries, vegetables and fruits with a high concentration of sugar for food, and gnaw out the buds of roses and peonies;
• They spread weed seeds throughout the area.

For reference! Mainly, red, black and yellow species of ants are found in home areas. Despite the fact that these insects can be fought in different ways, it is almost impossible to completely get rid of ants in the country. We are talking only about a significant reduction in their population.

The colony of earth ants on the site numbers from 10 to 50 thousand individuals

What to do if there are ants in the house

Domestic ants must be destroyed without mercy. This is especially true for red “pharaoh” ants. Use insecticides “Great Warrior”, “Anteater”. The insects will take this poison to the queen, and with her death the entire anthill will die out.

It is very important to close the attics and check the cellar and basements. There should be no dead rats, mice, birds, etc. in these rooms. If your attic is infested with pigeons, it will be very difficult to remove the ants, since the insects parasitize birds. First, drive out the birds, clean the room, and only then start fighting the ants.

The use of pesticides is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to detect an ant nest in the house. Therefore, it will not be possible to mechanically destroy the anthill. Because of this, the entire colony must be poisoned. If you do not do this, the ants can cause significant damage to buildings.

IMPORTANT! If you can’t get rid of uninvited guests yourself, use the services of specialized pest control companies.

Plants that repel ants

To get rid of ants in your dacha once and for all, it is recommended to use plants whose pungent odor repels these insects. To do this, nasturtium, mustard, parsley, and dill are planted around the perimeter of the site. Lavender, marigolds, and mustard are placed between the rows of the beds and around the flower beds.

Insects cannot tolerate the smell of tansy, lemon balm, and fennel. Rosemary, cilantro, potatoes, and anise will scare them away. Mint and valerian are planted in tree trunk circles to protect trees. Dried plants like these are laid out in secluded places in houses and various buildings.

Plants that repel ants - effectively help get rid of them once and for all

Simplicity of preventative measures

Getting rid of ants is relatively easy, but it is much easier to prevent them from appearing in the first place. All you need to do is not leave open food and bread crumbs on the table, on shelves, in the refrigerator; keep the house clean.

It is also recommended from time to time to apply chalk to the most “dangerous” places, which will perfectly repel insects. Living in a clean and well-kept apartment and the absence of unnecessary hassle is worth the effort.

Competent and regular care of the land will also allow you to quickly and inexpensively solve problems associated with the appearance of numerous harmful insects.

Traditional methods of fighting ants

You can effectively fight ants using traditional methods. For example, to eliminate ants from the site, summer residents and gardeners use food additives and other substances with a pungent odor that is unpleasant for insects.

1. Essential oils . The list of aromatic oils that are recommended to be included in the arsenal of products that do not allow insects to spread excessively is quite extensive. Anise, juniper, and lavender are most often used. Cinnamon, cedar, and mint show good results. It is necessary to treat door, ventilation and window openings, and apply a small amount along the baseboards. This technique will not only expel annoying insects from your home, but will also serve as a preventive measure against their invasion.
2. Onion and garlic . These vegetable crops with a characteristic odor help drive ants out of their favorite places and keep them away from plants or buildings. Rub cut garlic cloves on the threshold of the house and tree trunks. Place chopped onion and garlic slices inside the home, on ant paths, around the perimeter of anthills.
3. Vinegar . A solution of table vinegar (5%) is used to irrigate the surface of the soil around the cabbage and treat the ant trails. If insects are noticed in the house, it is recommended to wipe the floors, door frames, and benches with vinegar. Spray greenhouses and hotbeds if necessary.
4. Coffee . Collect grounds from freshly brewed natural coffee. Place it under bushes of blooming peonies and roses. You can scatter it over the surface of an anthill found in the soil, or spread it under strawberry leaves.

Other repellents

Ants are afraid of the smell of many substances that summer residents sprinkle on beds, paths, row spacing, the perimeter of greenhouses and hotbeds, the threshold of houses, tree trunk circles:

• ground red pepper;
• cinnamon;
• tobacco dust;
• a mixture of equal parts of wood dust, ash, lime;
• lemon or orange peels soaked in water for 24 hours.

Advice! You can treat them with unrefined sunflower oil or sprinkle their habitat with wood ash. When it sticks to the paws, the insects experience a burning sensation and rush to leave the treated areas.

What to do if you are bitten by an ant

Usually an ant bite does not pose any danger to humans. But you may be allergic to ant venom.

First of all, take an anti-allergen. For example, Cetrin or Diazolin. Next, wipe the bite area with alcohol and make a compress with baking soda. If redness and swelling persist, consult a doctor.

Gentle folk methods of fighting ants

The popularity of folk wisdom remedies is explained by their relative safety for ants, since they are mainly aimed at eviction rather than destruction of their populations. The most humane way is to relocate the entire anthill to the nearest forest.

1. The discovered nest is dug up from all sides in the evening and then transferred to a bucket or bag. All that remains is to move it to the chosen place away from the summer cottage.
2. It also does not harm insects, forcing them to leave their habitable nests, by arranging shields over them that create dense shadow. Since ants choose sunny places for their houses, constant shading will serve as a signal for them to move.
3. It makes it necessary to leave the nest by watering anthills with a solution of a glass of jam mixed in a bucket of water. After such treatment, the development of yeast fungi intensifies, infecting the food supplies of ants.
4. For the same purpose, dissolve 250 ml of ammonia with a concentration of 10% in five liters of water. Ants are forced to leave the house by an unpleasant aroma.

Fighting ants with humane methods - involves the use of repellent rather than insect-killing agents

What to use against insects in the garden

You need to be very careful in the garden so as not to harm the vegetables. Use a mixture of oregano and sulfur, ash, ammonia, semolina and yeast traps. You can also fill the nest with boiling water and place strong-smelling products (garlic, ground pepper) nearby.

When flowering has not yet begun or has already ended, it is best to use insecticides.

ON A NOTE. It is better not to use kerosene or brine in the garden. These products may harm the soil

Methods for destroying anthills

If it is not possible to scare off the ants, and they occupy more and more territory in the summer cottage, they resort to more serious methods of destroying the discovered nests.

1. Using boiling water . In the evening, when the workers return to their nests, heat the water to boiling and water the discovered anthills, using a bucket for each. After the destruction of the nesting site, the death of the queen and most insects, the remaining individuals leave their usual place.
2. Tomato tops . Fresh tomato stems and foliage are crushed. Measure out 2 kg of raw materials and place them in a pan with 10 liters of boiling water. Leave for 48 hours in a sunny place to infuse. The finished infusion is filtered through cheesecloth. Dissolve 30 g of green soap shavings in the resulting volume. Pour the liquid into the anthill. Insects die quite quickly.
3. Fire . Some offer radical methods that require caution from the person performing the actions. Douse ant nests with gasoline or kerosene and throw a lighted match, moving away to a safe distance.

There are other methods to ensure the destruction of insects

• Dissolve 1 tbsp in a liter of water. l. kerosene and fill the ant house.
• Combine shampoo with vegetable oil - 400 ml each. While stirring, pour in water - 200 ml and table vinegar (6%) - 250 ml. They spill ant nests.
• Once a week, pour a mixture of carbolic acid dissolved in 10 liters of water into the discovered anthills - 2 tbsp. l., powdered laundry soap - 400 g and kerosene - 10 tbsp. l.
• Baking soda, which is generously sprinkled on ant nests in dry weather, has a detrimental effect. To enhance the effect, add powdered sugar in equal parts to the baking soda.
• You can dissolve 2 tbsp. l. soda in 1.5 liters of water. After thorough kneading, spill the anthill. Dry soil is placed on top and the nest is covered tightly with plastic film, blocking the flow of oxygen, which is reinforced with boards or stones.
• It is recommended to sprinkle millet or semolina. When eaten, it swells and causes the death of insects. To lure, mix cereal with sugar.

Black ants are considered the most dangerous pests for gardens and vegetable gardens.

Physical intervention

Ants are afraid if a person interferes in the life of their family. Therefore, you can dig up their home, then there is a chance that the insects will not return to their original place. In addition, it makes sense to try to move the anthill to neutral territory: working individuals, once they are far from home, may be afraid to return. In addition, ants in the garden are afraid of such improvised means as ash, bark shavings, lime and soot. It is enough to simply sprinkle the nest on top and wait until the pests leave the area in horror.

Poison baits

Installing poisonous baits with an attractive aroma or taste in places where insects move and gather in large numbers can significantly reduce their numbers. For this purpose, liquid preparations are prepared and poured into low, small containers. They are fixed under plants, on paths, around anthills.

Effective recipes

• Stir fine granulated sugar - 2 tbsp. l. in 100 ml of water with the addition of a bag of powdered boric acid.
• Dissolve sugar - 2 tbsp. l. in 100 ml of hot water. After cooling, dilute a teaspoon of powdered poisonous drug against ants in syrup.
• Dissolve in 15 tbsp. l. water 5 tbsp. l. sugar and 2 tsp. Boers. Heat the mixture while stirring. When the sugar grains have melted, remove from heat and cool. Enter 5 tsp. honey After kneading, the composition is ready for use.

Acetic acid as an alternative to vinegar

Are ants afraid of acetic acid? Acid will drive away and destroy ant colonies faster than table vinegar.

Author's note

Be careful when using acid. Inhalation of vapors is harmful to the respiratory tract. Acid contacting the skin causes burns.

Proportions

Use the acid in diluted form:

• 1 part essence + 3 parts water.
• 1 part acid + 2 parts water.

Usage

1. Fill the mixture into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the redheads on the paths, so they will spread the smell on themselves. They themselves will die and others will be driven away.
3. Treat the settlement together with the queen.
4. Cover the anthill with film.
5. Repeat spraying after 2 days.

Ant Traps

The purpose of setting traps is to attract insects. They fall into the liquid or viscous mass prepared for them and cannot get out. All that remains is to collect the low jars filled with ants and prepare a fresh portion, focusing on simple recipes:

• Place 2 tbsp in a jar. l. fresh yeast. Add water and stir vigorously until a slurry with the consistency of kefir is formed. Additionally, add 2 tsp. jam or jam and grind the mass until smooth.
• Making a honey trap is even easier and faster. To make it, dilute 1.5 tsp in 300 ml of water. honey You can make sugar syrup or stir jam in water.

You can use regular lump sugar as a sweet bait for ants.

Chemicals

If it is impossible to reduce the ant population that has spread throughout the dacha area, they resort to special chemicals. Among them are the following popular options:

Important! During work, safety measures are observed, including respiratory protection with a gauze mask and hands with gloves.

Which product to choose

The choice of ant repellents depends on the goal that the owner of the site sets for himself. If the goal is to temporarily scare them away and force them to move to another place, then it will be enough to use odorous substances whose aroma they cannot tolerate. For example, pour tar into an anthill.

If it is necessary to completely get rid of and destroy ant families, then poisonous chemicals and the method of destroying nests are used. Such drugs as “Grom-2”, “Dachnik”, “Anteater” will not give insects a chance to survive. It is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly when using them and check the expiration date before using and purchasing.

Protection of trees and shrubs

1. Experienced gardeners have devices in their arsenal that allow them to protect trees from ants. To do this, a cut car tire is placed around the trunk. The cut is located on top, which creates a groove that, after filling with water, insects will not be able to overcome. Strips of foil are attached to the trunks in several tiers, which are twisted into a cone and the top edge is folded back.
2. It is recommended to whitewash trees in spring and autumn. It will protect against insects with tar, which is applied to the trunk with a strip made in the form of a ring. Ants will not be able to overcome the viscous mass. A strip of roofing material plays a similar role. The barrel is wrapped with it, and a long-drying adhesive substance is smeared on top. You can wrap it with double-sided tape, removing the top protective layer.
3. They are tied to the stems and laid out on the surface of the soil: bunches of garlic, wormwood, tansy. The shoots of raspberries, blackberries, and currants are tied, retreating 15 cm from the ground, with narrow strips of sheepskin soaked in carbolic acid, with the wool facing out.
4. To destroy already settled goosebumps, combine kerosene - 120 ml, tar soap ground into powder - 400 g, formic acid - 20 g. Pour the mixture with 10 liters of water while vigorously stirring. Shrubs and trees are irrigated every three days. A total of five treatments will be needed.

Measures to protect tree trunks and branches from ants

The appearance of ants in your summer cottage will not cause significant damage if you promptly begin using proven methods to repel and destroy them. It is important to prevent strong reproduction of aphids, remove plant debris, dig up the soil after harvesting, and protect the area with plants that repel insects.

Author of the article: Kamenkov Igor Dmitrievich

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Ultrasonic repeller

A similar tool appeared not so long ago. The repeller is the same size as a pack of cigarettes. When turned on, ultrasound signals begin to be generated, a person is not able to hear them. Such a device for killing house ants requires compliance with some important safety rules. It cannot be left on all the time in rest areas, especially near beds. If there are animals, the repeller may only be used with the permission of a veterinarian.

The generated signal can have an impact on the human psyche and cause stress. Basically, the devices are of the same type, their structure is the same, the differences are only in price and appearance. The practical effectiveness of the devices has not been confirmed.

Source

Calling an exterminator

If all methods have been in vain, and you do not know how to get rid of ants in the house on your own, you can call an organization that provides pest control services. This is especially true if the main ant nest has not been found.

Specialists will treat the premises with special chemicals, so during the period of disinfestation it is better to leave the house, for example, to visit relatives. In an apartment building where ants have settled, you can involve neighbors in the fight. Calling exterminators together will cost less. Additionally, treating your attic, basement, and stairwells will help prevent ants from appearing again.

Before processing, kitchen table drawers must be cleared of dishes and food. You will also need to temporarily remove all moveable things from the room - dishes, toys, chairs, vases, flower pots.

The treatment itself takes about an hour, but the toxic substances on the surfaces should remain for 24 hours, and start wet cleaning no earlier than after a few weeks. Then not only the adult ants will die, but also their larvae.