Household Pests

All homes occasionally run into problems with household pests. While most are merely a nuisance, some may bite, sting or transmit disease. A few may even cause serious structural damage which can impact the value of your house. While it may seem easier to reach for a can of bug spray, this may not be the best way to fix the problem. Many homeowners today are growing leery of the harmful effects of household chemicals and are turning to safer, least-toxic solutions.

Understanding the problem is the first step in finding a healthy solution. Once a pest is identified, you will be better able to determine the factors which limit its reproduction and survival potential. For example, all pests need water, shelter and food to survive. By limiting one or more of these basic necessities you can significantly impact the number of pests present. Combined with natural control measures (listed below), a longer lasting, more significant impact is made.

There are at least 12,000 species of ants found throughout the world. Here’s how to get rid of them using organic and natural techniques.

Common in and around the home, ants range in size from about 1/32 to 3/4 inch long. They have three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) and can be anywhere from a yellowish-red in color to black. Most ants are wingless, but winged forms exist during “swarming” or colony reproduction.

As a group, ants are important natural predators of many insect pests including flea and fly larvae, caterpillars and termites. However, there are times when it may be necessary to control ants especially when they enter our homes in search of food. Some ant species become problems in lawns and gardens when they build large unsightly mounds or protect aphids, mealybugs, scales and other insect pests from their natural enemies. Ants can also damage plants by tunneling around the roots causing them to dry out.

Tip: Look closely to determine if what you see is an ant or a termite. Ants have narrow waists and bent antennae. Termites have thick waists and straight antennae.

Life Cycle

All ants are social insects and live in colonies with three distinct types of adults called castes. Queens are larger than other ants and are responsible for egg laying. Some species have only one queen per colony whereas others have many. Males are responsible for mating with the queens; they do not participate in any other activities. Workers are sterile wingless females. They make up the bulk of the colony and are responsible for building and defending the nest, caring for the young and foraging for food.

New ant colonies are established by a single fertilized queen that lays hundreds of eggs. After about 30 days the eggs hatch into legless larvae that do not resemble adults. The queen cares for the “maggot-like” larvae until they pupate approximately 1-2 months later. Within three weeks the pupae transform into adult “worker” ants, which begin collecting food for themselves, the queen and for future generations of larvae. Eggs are laid continuously throughout the spring, summer and fall. Colonies overwinter in the soil, woody areas or in garden trash.

Note: Ants have pincer-like jaws and can bite although most do not. A few species are very aggressive and will inflict a painful sting. Here’s how to get rid of ants without harming your family, pets or the environment.

Control

Like all pests, ants require food and water to survive; by eliminating these basic necessities you can greatly reduce their numbers.

Store food and organic wastes in sealed containers, clean up all kitchen surfaces and empty trash daily.

Caulk cracks and crevices around foundations and apply Don’t Bug Me Spray to door and window jams to prevent entry from outside.

Where pipes and electrical wires enter the house spread Tanglefoot Pest Barrier to keep crawling pests outside.

Diatomaceous earth contains no toxic poisons and works quickly on contact. Dust lightly and evenly around areas where pest insects are found.

Apply Organic Insect Killer Granules around foundations, lawns and landscaped areas to eliminate or repel all kinds of crawling insects.

Dust Boric Acid lightly into cracks, crevices, wall voids and other insect hiding places. This fine powder clings to the legs, antennae and bodies of crawling insects and acts as a stomach poison when consumed during grooming.

Spray Orange Guard, made from citrus peel extract, to kill on contact. Approved for organic use, Orange Guard is a broad spectrum insect killer that’s safe to use indoors and out. Repeat applications may be necessary.

Safer Ant & Roach Killer is the first effective, truly organic aerosol that kills crawling insects in seconds. Best of all, it has a fresh citrus scent, so there is no chemical odor!

Tip: The best way to keep ants from coming indoors is to locate the mound and destroy the colony. While this is not always an easy task sometimes a chunk of jelly placed where ants are found will help. As the workers are attracted to the food source pay close attention as they carry it back to their nest. Set pre-filled outdoor bait stations where you find ant mounds or their trails. Botanical pesticides applied directly to the soil will also destroy existing mounds.

Note: Ants are not only pests but can be beneficial, too! Try to tolerate them when only a few are present.