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Ant Control
Ants are a nuisance when they get into the
house, creating a trail of insects as they
feed on any bits of food they can find. Ants
live in colonies or nests often found in
the ground near the foundations of buildings,
in crawlspaces, or under concrete slabs.
It is the worker ants who forge for food
to feed the entire colony. They can be identified
by their body shapes, which have three body
parts and a constricted waist. Controlling
these insects requires locating the ant nest
and destroying the colony.
If you are having a problem with ants, consider
the following:
- A small piece of food can serve as bait,
allowing you to trace the ant route back
to the crack or crevice they are using to
enter the house. It is important to apply
any insecticide to this opening; never treat
an entire wall, floor or household surface.
- Light applications of dust made from products
with benediocarb, chlorpyrifos, or boric
acids pushed into the crack the ants are
using will kill them, as the workers will
carry the insecticide back to the nest. Oil
based insecticides applied to the crack with
a paintbrush are also a good choice, as are
some ant bait syrups. Aerosol sprays are
not as effective.
- Toxic, fast acting insecticides do not do
as good a job of eliminating ants as slow
acting types that the workers carry back
to the nest for consumption. These should
be placed directly on the ant trails.
- Ants can be prevented from entering the building
by using a perimeter spray that is applied
two feet up the foundation wall and three
feet out into the soil. These sprays are
made by mixing a powdered insecticide with
water, so that foundation plants are not
damaged. Directions for mixing these sprays
should be read very carefully.
Always keep ant insecticides away from children
and pets. |
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