There is one thing we can rely on: spring comes every year. A wonderful season. But it's not just us who think so, the ants do too. When it gets warmer, the little pests return. Sometimes they find their way into our homes.
Pharaoh ant as an uninvited guest
Especially in spring, these pests can become uninvited guests. At this time of year, ants do not yet find enough food in nature and are therefore dependent on alternative quarters. Warm houses and buildings offer the ants an optimal place to find plenty of food. The Pharaoh ant for example, loves warmth and therefore prefers well-heated rooms. It is one of the smallest ant species and was introduced to Europe from Asia in the 19th century.
The nests are usually well hidden and can even be found in masonry. In general, the Pharaoh ant chooses the warmest place in the house. The inconspicuous-looking animals are not harmless. They particularly infest protein-rich foods and organic waste. But ants can cause more than just feeding damage. The Pharaoh ant can also cause health problems. In hospitals, for example, they can spread germs. Due to their size, 2-2.5 mm, they are even able to get to dressing materials and crawl under wound dressings. In health centers and hospitals, Pharaoh ants therefore pose a serious danger and must be controlled. But Pharaoh ants also occur in commercial kitchens, bakeries, or indoor swimming pools.
What can you do if you have discovered the little pests in the house? Before trying to fight the problem with chemicals, you should fall back on old home remedies for ant control home remedies for ant control. There are a variety of home remedies for this, all of which achieve a different effect.
Home remedies for fighting ants
When using home remedies, the behavior of the ants is exploited. Ants use pheromones to form small trails along which they transport food and building materials for their nest. The home remedies intervene directly here. They break the course of the ant trails and thus block access to their nest.
An effective home remedy is, for example, vinegar and lemon essences. A few drops along the ant trail drive the pests away. Unfortunately, the intense smell evaporates quickly and the procedure must be repeated. Similar successes can also be reported with the use of Cloves or cinnamon powder, Clove oil or lavender oil. A home remedy of a different kind is “hot water”. In this case, boiling water is poured onto the ant nest. However, success essentially depends on whether you can destroy the entire nest. If the ant has nested in the masonry, you should refrain from this measure. The widespread assumption that ants can be driven away with the help of baking powder or yeast cannot be confirmed with certainty. The yeast leaves the ant completely unharmed after ingestion. Yeast is even added as a food substitute in many ant farms. Similar observations can be made with baking powder. The carbon dioxide in the baking powder does not harm the ant and is therefore not dangerous. The assumption probably dates back to the time when hartshorn was used in the kitchen instead of baking powder. Hartshorn salt splits ammonia and would therefore be a successful means of ant control.
Another remedy is gypsum dust. This is sprinkled wherever the ants are. However, it must be noted that gypsum dust first hardens quickly when it comes into contact with moisture and second, it is harmful to health to inhale the dust over a long period of time. Furthermore, only the ants that are on the floor are driven away, as the dust does not stick to walls, etc. As a control agent, it is therefore only of limited use.
Not all ants are the same
There are a multitude of different ant species. Identifying the respective species often influences the success of control measures. For example, there are ant species that do not react to corresponding baits. In addition, the species can provide information about whether the nest is inside or outside the apartment. If you have recurring problems with ants, you should seek expert advice.
About the author
Sophie Hulkoff is an editor at the Berlin advertising agency “Bei Freunden”. She supports the agency not only in the creation of editorial contributions but also in the field of online marketing. Photo donation by the agency.
Also read: Combat bed bugs
1 comment
Comments are closed.