A sugar ant is an ant that is attracted to sweets and meat, and you can learn how to get rid of them by reading on.
The first step in getting rid of sugar ants is to eliminate potential sources of water. Because ants are always looking for water, you should eliminate all water sources around your home, especially if you live in a dry climate.
This includes drips from kitchen sinks, leaky pipes, and condensation. You can also use a vinegar-based flush solution to kill ants and eliminate their pheromone trails.
What are Sugar Ants?
Sugar ants are native to Australia. They belong to the genus Camponotus and the subfamily Formicinae. They were first described by the German entomologist Wilhelm Ferdinand Erichson in 1842.
There are several types of sweet-eating ants, including:
- Acrobat ants
- Argentine ants
- Big-headed ants
- Carpenter ants
- Cornfield ants
- Crazy ants
- Ghost ants
- Little black ants
- Odorous house ants
- Pavement ants
- Pharaoh ants
- White-footed ants, and many others.
Are Sugar Ants Harmful?
Sugar ants are common pests, but they are not dangerous to humans. While their bites may not be painful, you should seal up any gaps or openings they may use to enter your home.
They can enter through window sills, doors, and skirting boards. Pipework vents also provide an entry point for them. These ants have been a part of human life for a long time.
The best way to prevent infestation is to clean your house thoroughly. Make sure to clean out your pantry and kitchen. These areas are prime breeding grounds for sugar ants. Don’t overfill your garbage bins and ensure that your garbage is not damp.
It’s also wise to wear protective gloves when handling cleaning solutions and infested objects. You should also inspect the perimeter of your home to find any entry points and seal them properly.
Sugar ants are a nuisance that can infest your home. Their presence can lead to a number of issues, including water contamination and wood beam damage. They can also attract other pests into your home.
Despite their small size, these ants have powerful jaws and can corrode your skin with formic acid. If you notice a sugar ant invasion in your home, make sure to take action as soon as possible.
Sugar ants are most common in late spring and early summer and will invade your home to feed. They are attracted to the sweet smells from your food and water. Once inside, they will nest in the soil or build nests.
How Do I Know If I Have Sugar Ants?
Sugar ants are a common ant pest that invades homes during the spring and summer months. They often enter homes through cracks, especially in places where you store food or water.
Their sweet smell is attracted to these areas, so you can expect ants to attack your home during those times.
If you see ants in your home, you should immediately take steps to eliminate their activity. Sugar ants are attracted to sugar and water sources, so they are typically found in the kitchen. When you notice a swarm of them, remove any food source and thoroughly clean the area.
You can easily identify sugar ants by looking at their body structure. They have three distinct body parts. Their abdomens are puffed and their thoraxes are large. Females are larger than males. You should also pay attention to their color shades and size. Female ants tend to be larger than males.
If you notice a significant number of ants in your home, you should seek professional help to control them. Sugar ants can be difficult to eliminate on your own, but it is possible to prevent them from returning. Regular cleaning and sealing up cracks can prevent ants from returning.
Sugar ants are attracted to food and water sources. They feed on trash and other foods that contain crumbs and sugar. They also feed on food in uncovered containers and garbage cans. Besides sugar, they will eat other foods that contain proteins and fats.
Getting Rid of Sugar Ants
Using Borax
Borax is a great ant control option, but it can also kill pollinators, including honey bees. Before applying this substance to your home, you should first identify what kind of ants you are dealing with.
There are thousands of species of ants and you need to know which ones are living in your home.
Borax is described by WebMD as a powdery white substance with properties similar to sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, and disodium tetraborate.
Borax is classified as noncarcinogenic by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), but it poses some risks, including:
- Skin, eye, and respiratory irritation
- Digestive problems
- Infertility
- Kidney failure
- Shock
- Death
Some species prefer sugar, while others prefer oils, fats, and protein. If you’re not sure which type of ant you’re dealing with, you may want to consider a professional service to help identify and control the type of ants living in your home.
Borax is a great way to get rid of sugar ants, but it must be used with caution. The compound can be toxic to pets and children. Borax is a slow-acting solution, so you should be patient. You should not use it on an ant colony if you’re unsure of how long it will take to kill the ants.
Using Chemical pesticides
The use of chemical pesticides to get rid of sugar ant infestations can be quick and efficient. Sprays work best in small infestations, while baits take longer to work. In apartment buildings, ant control requires a coordinated effort among residents.
The first step is to identify the location of the infestation, and the next step is to determine the most effective treatment method.
The most effective chemical pesticides for sugar ants are aerosols, which are used to spray the insects and eliminate them within two to three hours. If you plan to use them, you should read WHO’s Chemical pesticides safety guide.
The aerosols kill the worker ants but leave the anthills untouched. New ants will eventually emerge from the nests, but the aerosols will destroy all the ants in a matter of minutes.
Sealing entryways
One of the best ways to get rid of sugar ants is to seal your entryways. While it may seem counterintuitive, sealing your entryways will help prevent them from entering your home again.
Sugar ants can appear unexpectedly inside your home, only to disappear within a few days. To prevent an infestation, you can use ant baits or seal any cracks or crevices that can serve as entryways to your home.
The best way to keep sugar ants out of your home is to seal all entryways. This can be done by putting caulk, glue, or putty on the entrances. If you do not have these materials on hand, you can also use other substances that can deter them, such as coffee grounds, chalk, and diatomaceous earth.
Vacuum-cleaning upholstery
If you want to get rid of sugar ants in your upholstery, you can spray it with boric acid. This product has a residual effect, so it will kill ants for hours after you spray it. It works by penetrating the ants’ exoskeleton and digesting fats inside their bodies. Just be sure to vacuum up any dead ants.
Alternatively, you can use natural ant-killing agents like borax or diatomaceous earth. They work a little bit slower, but will get the job done.
Besides being an unsightly nuisance, sugar ants can be dangerous. They carry helminth eggs and spread dangerous diseases when they come in contact with waste and food. They can also cause allergies to some people.
Therefore, if you want to get rid of them, it is essential to remove all sources of food and debris in the upholstery.
