Are ants invading your home? Here are steps you can take to get rid of them
Q: Every winter during the rainy season, we have an ant problem. Is there some way to prevent them from coming into the house, and what can we do if they show up?
I never had ant problems, until we moved to California. The ants that invaded our house were different from any ants I had ever seen — they were so tiny that they could get into food containers we thought were well-sealed. When I tried to smush them, the remaining ants acted like they knew what was going on and successfully outmaneuvered my thumb.
They would get into my bed and bite me. Not only were these ants tiny, but they were also kind of smart! I soon learned that these were Argentine ants, an invasive species in Southern California. Native ants are beneficial to the environment. They will eat pest insects such as fleas and termites. They also aid in breaking down organic matter such as dead plants and animals. Native ants form distinct colonies that will battle each other, limiting their populations. They also tend to behave themselves and stay outdoors.
Argentine ants tend to invade indoor spaces during hot, dry weather or after heavy rain. There are some steps that you can take to prevent (or at least discourage) these incursions: Caulk any cracks or small holes to block entry into your home. Secure all food, including pet food, into containers with very tight lids. Promptly clean up any spills and remove trash bags regularly. Fix any leaks, since ants tend to seek water during the hot weather. Watch for and eliminate any aphids or sucking insects that produce honeydew (a sticky substance excreted by aphids and scale). Keep mulch away from your house’s foundation, as it can provide an attractive nesting environment.
Despite all of your best efforts, you may still see ants inside your home. If you see a swarm of ants on your countertops, clean the surface with warm, soapy water to remove any scent trails. Remove anything that may have attracted them in the first place. After wiping down your countertops and/or mopping the floor, wait for another trail to form. Once you see the trail, place baits where the ants will find them and wait.
Soon, you should see a steady stream of ants. Follow this trail back to its origin, which will usually be a corner of a window or door, and place more bait at the entry point. Try not to look too often as the ants go wild over the bait, and resist thetemptation to spray the whole disgusting swarm with bug spray. You want the ants to take the bait back to their comrades so the whole nest will be destroyed. Patience will pay off.
When purchasing bait, select ones with one or more of these active ingredients: boric acid, fipronil, avermectin, or hydramethylnon. For more information, go to ipm.ucanr.edu.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu