Ewww Ants!! Rethink Your Attitude On Ants & How We Get Them Out of the House

What's Up?

Ants are mostly viewed as pests that we need to get rid of. Sometimes we just get grossed out when they are in the house or in our yard.

Let's rethink our view of ants and how we keep them out of the house.

Ants actually are very beneficial to the environment and have a role in the ecosystem.

Also there are a number of non-toxic ways to prevent them from coming in the house.

Let's explore the world of ants.

Idea

Ants can be kind of gross when they come into the house. Instead of just seeing them as a nuisance that we need to chemical spray away, let's get more creative by exploring non-toxic methods to get rid of them and by learning some of the fun facts about ants.

Non-Toxic Ways to Shoo Ants From the House

Note: There are many different types of ants, and the remedies outlined below might not work for all types of ants

A really good book that will provide more information, and where some of the information came from below is Yard, Lawn & Garden Secrets by Dr. Myles H. Bader.

Preventive

Trim trees and bushes around house so ants do not have an easy access point
Keep your kitchen clean of spills, and food remains as much as possible. Ants love people food and sugar.

Non-Toxic Methods

Spread used coffee grounds around the outside of the home.
Sprinkle cinnamon around the base of the house. Many types of ant are repelled by that herb.
Place fresh mint where the ants are coming in. Mint is a natural ant repellent.
Some sources recommend putting out cornmeal. They will take it back and it will cause them to explode.
Focus on killing the Queen Bee Ant and the nest.
- Mix together Strawberry Jam, wet cat food, and a little bit of boric acid. This will cause the Queen to die.
- Mix liquid hand soap with water and put it into the nest. Repeat several hours later to ensure it has gone into all the parts of the nest.
- Sprinkle coffee grounds on a fire ant nest. This will cause them to move.
Spray counter-tops, floors, and openings at night with white vinegar.

Fun Facts About Ants

(Courtesy of various sources)

Ants can lift 20 times there body weight.
Ants have two stomachs. One is food for itself, the other is for food to share.
There are over 10,000 known types of ants.
40,000 ants have the same brain power as a human.
Ants leave a scent trail to food so that other ants can find the food.
The job of the Queen Bee Ant is to lay eggs. The job of the worker ants is to collect food, look after the young, and protect the nest.
Ants have six legs and each leg has three joints. They can run very quickly due to their construction.

How Does It Help?

Environment

NonToxic - By using non-toxic ant removal you are not putting harmful chemicals into the ground which can kill other animals, and be harmful to humans.

Ants Can Be Benefical to The Environment

Ants nest building activities aerate the soil and when they process their food, they add nutrients to the soil.
Plant eating ants help by consuming unwanted plants.
Ants eat other insects such as termites, cockroaches, ticks, mites, and some beetles.
Ants also eat insects that harm crops such as the boll weevil and caterpillars.

Fun Fact: Some birds pick up ants and put them in their wings so that the ants will eat the bugs off of them.

Monetarily

It is much more cost efficient to buy a large container of cinnamon, or mint than bug sprays or ant traps. You are helping both your pocketbook and the environment.

Parent(s)

Spend time with your kids and help them understand the wonders of the ant and the various ways to keep ants out of the house.

Safety Tip(s)

Before you use Boric Acid outlined above, ensure that you keep it away from pets, animals, and humans, as it can be very toxic.