Red ants are uninvited guests, the invasion of which is faced by many owners of houses and apartments. These domestic pests are not at all harmless, as it might seem at first glance. Insects can carry dangerous infections and viruses. In addition, they settle in whole colonies, quickly multiply. Effective methods of dealing with them are considered in the article.
What you need to know about red ants?
What information about intruders is useful in dealing with them? Red ants seek homes and apartments because food can be found quickly and easily. As a rule, these insects feed on ordinary food waste. They are looking for them in trash bins, on the kitchen table, on the floor and so on.
The pest nest is located in places that are inaccessible to humans. The free gap between tiles or wallpaper and the wall, skirting boards, floor coverings - there are many options. Red ants can settle outside the apartment. In this case, they visit only for food.
Killing individual individuals is an ineffective way to control pests. Destroy the nest of uninvited guests.
Why is it difficult to get rid of them?
Red ants - a misfortune that is not easy to get rid of. What are the reasons that it is difficult to deal with them?
- Ants are very tenacious insects. These individuals are even able to develop immunity to certain types of poison.
- Pests multiply very quickly, so the fight against them should not be postponed for a long time.
- Ants are able to feel the danger of staying in a habitable place. In this case, they choose another site.
- The main colony is located in a secluded place. A person sees only a small part of the pests scurrying around the house or apartment.
Methods of struggle
So what to do when red ants are found in an apartment or house? What pest control methods exist? The following options are available to homeowners in which uninvited guests appear:
- aerosols;
- gels;
- crayons and dusts;
- ant traps;
- folk remedies;
- physical destruction of nests.
Aerosols
How to get rid of red ants in an apartment? Special aerosols will help to cope with this task. They are among the most effective pest control products. When aerosol is sprayed, it spreads throughout the room, as a result of which insects cannot avoid contact with the poison. The tool is good in that it easily penetrates into inaccessible places.
There are rules that must be followed when using aerosols. They are listed below.
- The room must be properly prepared for processing. Furniture needs to be moved away from the walls, to remove carpets and paintings from them. You also need to close the glass with aquariums, remove people and pets from the room.
- Aerosol should treat all available surfaces. There is a high probability that one cylinder is not enough.
- After processing, wait a few hours.
- The final part is wet cleaning. If necessary, the entire procedure is repeated several times.
What aerosols to choose?
What aerosols show excellent results in the fight against red ants in an apartment or house? The most famous brands were:
- "Combat." The aerosol has a pleasant fruity aroma, the smell quickly disappears from the room. After spraying, you must close the room for several hours.
- The Raptor. The spray emits a mint flavor, quickly kills pests. The manufacturing company claims that the tool is absolutely safe for people and animals.
- Reid. Aerosol is perfect for use in hard to reach places. It cannot be sprayed with windows closed; it is dangerous for people and animals.
We must not forget that the bottle must be protected from fire, do not keep near heating appliances. When spraying, it is important to make sure that the substance does not get on the mucous membranes and skin.
Gels
How to get rid of red ants in an apartment or house using gels? The principle of action of such funds is to attract pests. Insects eat them, try to deliver them to the colony. As a rule, such drugs are characterized by a delayed effect.
The use of gels does not allow to achieve an instant effect. However, even colonies located in other parts of a multi-storey building can be eliminated with their help. A great advantage of such agents is their viscosity. The pest bait is easy to apply even on vertical surfaces.
Which gels to give preference?
Bring out small red ants will help funds, which are discussed below.
- The Raptor. Its main advantage is a convenient nozzle that allows you to apply the gel in hard to reach places.
- Fas. An agent that is characterized by intestinal contact action.
- "Ant-eater". This gel is available in terms of cost, therefore, is very popular. Its use entails paralysis and death of pests.
- "Adamant". This tool begins to act on the second day.
It is better to refuse the use of gels to parents who have small children. Also, such tools are not suitable for pet owners.
Crayons and dusts
Crayons and dusts (powders) will also come to the aid of those who have got small red ants in the apartment. How to get rid of pests with their help?
Crayons draw stripes on ant paths, as well as in places of their accumulation. Dusts are simply poured onto such areas. When ants pass through a toxic substance, it enters their respiratory tract. These funds can be used not only in the fight against insects, but also as a prophylaxis. This is true, for example, if it is known about the appearance of pests in neighboring apartments. The main advantage of crayons and dusts is affordable cost.
What tools are most popular?
- "Pyrethrum". This powder is made from daisy heads. The tool is absolutely safe for people and pets. Ants do not develop immunity against it.
- "Masha." The product is chalk. It is enough to process the whole house or apartment.
Insect traps
How to get rid of red ants using a special trap? This device is a small box with a poison bait inside. Such a tool is ideal for use in an apartment. It is odorless, and small children and pets are protected from poison.
Which traps are most popular?
- The Raptor. These devices have an adhesive base. You can mount them to the wall or floor. The set contains six pieces.
- "Combat." This trap can also be installed on any surface. Poisonous substance is contained inside.
As a rule, traps are placed near ant paths. The bait for pests can be mounted on the wall near the garbage chute, placed behind batteries and cabinets. Only worker ants are trapped. For the nest to suffer, they need to be in it within 24 hours.
Folk recipes
What remedy for red ants is popular among the people? Excellent results show bait with boric acid, with yeast. There are various recipes.
- It is necessary to mix boric acid and borax in equal proportions, and then add a little honey or sugar syrup. Such a bait is located on ant trails.
- A tablespoon of boric acid should be added to half a glass of jam. Then the poison should be smeared on flat saucers or cardboard.
- Yeast bait is also very popular. Fresh product should be mixed with honey and syrup, then the poison is laid out along the paths of the pests. Yeast swells in the ant’s stomach, leading to his death. The bait is good in that part of its insects are delivered to the nest.
- You can also make yeast paste. Half a glass of water accounts for such a quantity of product that the result is a viscous mass.
Do not count on a quick result, preferring a home mixture. It will take two to three weeks to remove pests with its help.
Other means
How to get rid of red ants without significant financial costs? One of the recipes listed below may be preferred.
- Excellent results in the fight against intruders shows cornmeal. This product is traditionally applied in its pure form. Flour should be scattered near the cracks, along ant paths. Insects use this product for food, but their stomach is not able to digest it. The flour swells, resulting in the death of the ant.
- To destroy pests, you can mix borax powder with sugar in equal proportions. The mixture is scattered around the perimeter of the room.
- Many people use aromatic herbs and spices in the fight against insects. It is known that ants do not tolerate the smells of chamomile, wormwood, garlic, red pepper and cinnamon.
Slot detection
How to get rid of red ants quickly and easily? To do this, find the nest and kill the uterus. Unfortunately, this can be done infrequently. Pests nests are located in inaccessible places, and may even be located outside the house or apartment.
Preventive measures
How to get rid of red ants in an apartment once and for all? The following describes the rules that must be followed in order to prevent their reappearance.
- Dirty dishes must be washed immediately. In no case should you leave her at night.
- Floors and furniture are important to keep clean. Regular wet cleaning is one of the most effective ant protection products.
- Do not allow garbage to accumulate in a bucket, especially when it comes to food waste. Insects have a developed sense of smell.
- It is advisable to wash the floors from time to time with water with the addition of a small amount of laundry soap and ammonia.
- Pests negatively relate to the smell of kerosene and sunflower oil.
What else do you need to know?
How to get rid of red ants in an apartment? If we are talking about a multi-storey building, neighbors must be included in the struggle. Otherwise, all measures will provide only a temporary result, insects will soon reappear.
In the fight against ants, be patient. It cannot be ruled out that you will have to repeatedly process an apartment or a house. For quick results, you can always contact organizations that provide pest management services.