Control
Ants Without Poison
by Marilyn Pokorney
Ants
are pests in the house. In the home common ants aren't harmful
but they are a nuisance.
There
are many natural repellants which can be used to discourage ants
from kitchen counters, pantries, and other areas where food lures
them in.
As
a first step try to prevent the ants from entering the house.
Use
less chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the lawn and gardens.
These cause an imbalance in the biological makeup of the soil.
Stressed soil and plants attract ants.
Many
species of ants like to drink honeydew from aphids. If good control
of aphids in plants and gardens near houses is exercised, ants
will be less numerous. Ants seem to dislike spearmint, tansy,
and pennyroyal. Plant these near the house to keep ants away.
Sweet fern is particularly dislike by red ants.
A
simple recipe to repel ants can be made by adding to an eight
ounce bottle of mild liquid soap one ounce each of citronella,
pennyroyal, peppermint, cinnamon, rose and tea oil. Mix together
and add three tablespoons to two cups of water. Spray where ants
are entering the house. This the formula can be used to wash down
counters in the kitchen but only use one-half tablespoon to two
cups of water.
Spray
trash and recycling bins if ants are a problem there.
For
anthills near the house pour boiling water into the nest.
Once
ants have entered the house, other measures have to be taken.
Pennyroyal, tansy, and mint leaves scattered on surfaces where
ants are found can be used as a deterrent. Bay leaves broken in
small pieces is also helpful.
Some
people have found a mixture of the following ingredients helpful
in repelling ants. One cup water, one- fourth cup plus one tablespoon
hot sauce, one-fourth cut liquid soap, and one teaspoon spearmint
of peppermint flavoring. Put in a spray bottle and spray where
ants enter the house.
Washing
down counters with an equal solution of vinegar and water is repulsive
to ants.
Powdered
cloves or red pepper sprinkled on surface where ants are found
serves as an excellent repellant. Ants are extremely fastidious
and will not return to where these hot spices can get on their
feet and antennae.
If
it not too inconvenient, sticky fly paper placed in strategic
areas will capture crawling ants.
Perhaps
one of the most unusual substances used that discourages ants
from pantry shelves are broken egg shells.
Lastly,
clean up all food after eating for it is the crumbs that attracts
the ants.
©
Marilyn Pokorney
For
more on pest control, including mice, deer, mosquitoes, snakes
and many more visit: http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/antcontrol.htm