Getting Rid of Ants + How To Keep Them Away
Table of Contents
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How to Prevent Ants
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Signs and Symptoms of Ant Bites
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Treatment for Ant Bites
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How to Get Rid of Ants
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11 Pictures of Ants
Ants can be a nuisance. They might be tiny creatures, but they can still become a pest in the house. Most of the time, ants are going to be found in the garden and they aren’t always a problem. However, things don’t always stay that way. You can rest assured that the common garden ants aren’t usually disease carriers, but that doesn’t mean that they are any less of a pain in and around the home. You won’t always be happy to find a lot of ants in your kitchen, in your cupboards, or anywhere around the home or around your business. So it’s important to understand them and the problems they can cause.
In this ants guide, you will find out everything you need to know about the pests and how to control them. If you’re concerned about ants in the home and how to manage them, or you suspect that you have an ant bite, you have come to the right place. Let’s take a look at what you need to do here.
Getting To Know Ants
To start with, it’s a good idea to know a lot more about ants. Now, the common Black Ant is one that we all know of. However, we also have the red ant which you may be aware of. This is the kind of ant that can sting you and cause irritation. If there’s one thing that you do need to know about ants as pests, it’s that they are attracted to food. So you may find that you end up with an ant pest problem inside areas of your home like the kitchen or pantry.
They are particularly attracted to sugar, but any kind of human food can attract them. This can cause ants to come into the home – however they are unlikely to nest here. Now, the queen usually stays in the nest and this is commonly found underground. It’s important to note that in order to remove an infestation, the queen often needs to be killed first. Queens can lay thousands upon thousands of eggs in their lifetime and this can be over the course of thirty years!
It could be that you also know of flying ants. These are ants that are commonly female ants that are fertile. They are usually bred in nests in the early springtime, they then go on to leave the nests and make their own nests by flying off.
Types of Ants
Maybe you’re wondering what sort of ants that you’re dealing with? There are many species of ants that you may not be aware of. It’s safe to say that you’ll know the common Garden Ant, also known as the Black Ant. They are usually found outside in moist areas. However, there are other species of ant, more tropical species that tend to be found inside of the house. These are the likes of Roger’s Ant, Ghost Ant, and Pharaoh’s Ant.
How to Identify Ants
The next thing that you’re going to want to do is know how to identify the ants that you are experiencing an issue with. This can be hard to do but here are 11 pictures of different types of ants. You do need to know what species of ant that you’re dealing with in order to know the right treatment to use.
You also need to remember that ants can be quite small, making them even harder to identify. Yet if you find that you can spot one that leads you to more, they will be much easier for you to identify.
However, to be sure, you may want to work with a professional. An expert should be able to confirm that you do in fact have an ant infestation and then recommend the right options for you.
Do’s and Don’ts of Ant Removal
Next up, it’s really important for you to understand some of the most essential things that you need to know about ants. Pests can always be a problem, but here’s how to control it.
- -Consult an expert if you’re not sure
- -Protect the area
- -Keep the area clean
- -Work to prevent reinfection
- -Wait until it’s too late to solve the problem
- -Try to remove ants without sorting the source of the issue first
- -Use unsafe products in the home that could be a risk to your family
How to Prevent Ants
It’s usually within the spring and summer months that you have to be a lot more vigilant of ants. Pest problems can be more of an issue at this time of the year, so it can be a good idea to try and prevent it altogether. As you may know, they are attracted to food, so it’s important to take the right measures. Here are a few of the things you can do;
- Keep an eye out for the first sign of ants – There will often be a scout ant first before the tribe turns up. This is a sign that you will need to take some action.
- Keep everything clean – Ants are attracted to food so it’s important for you to keep your kitchen clean to detract them from entering.
- Store food correctly – Don’t leave food lying around. Using air tight containers to store your food so that it’s not going to attract pests.
- Protect your home – If there are cracks, cover them up. Around windows and doors could mean that ants are able to get in.
- Use the right products – To prevent ants from coming into your home, it’s a good idea to spray products around your home. An ant infestation can be frustrating, so using an insecticide around the barrier of your home can stop them from entering.
Signs and Symptoms of Ant Bites
Most of the time, bits and stings from insects such as ants aren’t going to be life-threatening, but they can be a problem. Not only that, but there’s a risk of an allergic reaction. While this can be common across many pests, there are red ants that can bite or sting you. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of a bite;
- Pain and/or itching
- Swelling and/or redness in the area
- Hives
- Irritation
- Anaphylaxis shock
It may be important to seek medical care if you’re concerned about an ant bite.
Treatment for Ant Bites
If you do suspect that you have an ant bite, you will want to make sure that you get the right treatment. If you are in pain or you’re dealing with itchiness, it’s a good idea to treat it as soon as possible. Speak to a doctor if you are concerned about shock or an allergy. Taking an antihistamine can help to reduce the swelling, as well can a cold compress. You may also want to source a cream to relieve itching.
How to Get Rid of Ants
If you do realize that you have ants, you’re going to want to get rid of them. To start with, it’s a great idea for you to make sure that you consult with an expert. It could be the case that removing them can be difficult on your own, but a team could eradicate them easily.
However, if you would like to try home remedies, make sure that you’ve removed any food that could be attracting them and that you’ve found how they’re getting in. Then you can work on repelling them. Ants hate lavender and peppermint so using these scents can help. You can also look for an insecticide that will repel them from your home too.