Picture this: a sunny afternoon, a perfect patio setup, and the mouth-watering aroma of a barbecue wafting through the air. Everything’s idyllic until… you spot them. Tiny, persistent, and relentless—ants have invaded your summer haven. The battle has begun.
At Westside Pest Control, we know this all too well. That’s why we’re here to arm you with a foolproof battle plan to reclaim your patio from these pesky intruders.
Sharpen Your Sword and Grab Your Shield
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of ant control, it’s essential to adopt the right mindset. Think of yourself as a warrior gearing up for battle. Ant control requires patience, precision, and strategy. So, take a deep breath, and let’s tackle this step-by-step.
Step 1: Know Thy Enemy
Understanding which ants you’re dealing with is crucial. Different species have different behaviors, and knowing your enemy is half the battle won. Here are some common culprits you might encounter:
- Pavement Ants: These tiny black ants are notorious for their love of sugar and can be found under sidewalks and patio slabs.
- Carpenter Ants: Larger and capable of causing structural damage, these ants love to nest in damp or damaged wood.
- Fire Ants: Recognizable by their reddish color, they pack a painful sting and are often found in grassy areas.
- Pharaoh Ants: Tiny and light yellow or red, these ants are difficult to spot but can cause significant problems.
- Flying Ants: Not a separate species, but reproductive members of the colony, these winged ants are often seen swarming in the late spring and early summer.
See related blog: What types of ants do I have?
Step 2: Survey the Land
Locating the nesting sites is key. Follow their trails—they might just lead you back to their hideouts. Common nesting areas include:
- Under patio slabs
- Within cracks in the pavement
- In damp or decaying wood
- Near warmth sources like house foundations or under flooring
If they are coming from inside your home, that’s an issue. Likely a moisture ingress problem which has created a habitable environment for them. We recommend you inspect for signs of moisture. If you’ve ever had a leak, like a leak in your laundry room, kitchen, in your roof, or hose bib, start there.
Spotted Ants in the house? Check out this post for remediation tips and recommendations
Image: Pavement Ants are fully active again excavating sand from under homes, patios and sidewalks in full force!
Step 3: Prepare the Weapons (your Toolkit)
Arming yourself with the right tools will give you the best shot at winning this battle. Here’s a list of both natural and chemical options:
Natural Repellents:
- Borax and Sugar Mix: A classic bait that ants carry back to their colony.
- Spices and Essential Oils: Cinnamon, peppermint, and clove oil can deter ants.
- White Vinegar and Baking Soda: Effective for disrupting ant trails.
- Diatomaceous Earth: This natural powder can be sprinkled around entry points to dehydrate and kill ants
Chemical Solutions:
- AntOut: A popular ant control product.
- Terro Liquid Ant Baits: Effective for indoor and outdoor use.
- Raid Ant Baits: Known for their effectiveness in quickly reducing ant populations.
*WARNING* Apply these products according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and place them in strategic locations where you’ve observed the most ant activity. Be sure to keep them out of reach of pets and children. Regular monitoring and replacement of these baits can help ensure a more effective and long-lasting solution to your ant problem.
Step 4: Attack, Regroup, Attack again if necessary.
Now that you’re armed with your toolkit, it’s time to attack the culprits. Go ahead and apply some of the tools with the following techniques. Here’s some of our favourites.
Favourite #1: Boiling water attackÂ
One of the best and oldest tricks for getting rid of ants requires nothing more than boiling water! When pavement ants begin to form sand piles in the yard, on the sidewalk or patio, boiling water is a great way to slow them down! Pour the water directly over the pile of sand. Pavement ant colonies can number 100,000 so although boiling water will slow them down, you might win the first battle, not the war.
Favourite #2: Borax-juice Mix
The borax-juice concoction is fantastically effective. A ratio of 2:1, Borax to juice is a great recipe. Apple, orange, pineapple juice, whatever you have. Any liquid bait that you can buy from the hardware store as well. They’re not that expensive and actually work really well, we recommend you start with Borax.
Then grab some cotton balls soaked in the mix and place them near areas of high activity. Ants will take the bait back to the nest where they’ll consume and ingest the Borax and knock them out! It’s a bit of a cruel death, but you’re at war… no mercy!
Favourite #3: Ant Killer
Most people will find it easiest to buy some ant-killer. Any other-the-counter product that has Ants on the label available from your local hardware store should suffice.
Use a straw, get the product into the ground and don’t be afraid to empty a quarter tank over each of the sand piles. Ant nests can be widespread and exist deep underground, so use more than you think.
Application steps
Whether you are applying Natural Repellents like essential oils or Diatomaceous Earth, or something harder like liquid Ant baits, the application is mostly the same.
General steps to applying baits and repellents to ensure success:
- First, identify entry points, trails, & possible nesting sites
- Apply to areas of high activity and along the ant trails and near entry points into your home (if you don’t want them getting inside).
- When deploying chemical solutions, set up ant baits like AntOut or Terro in strategic locations. Ensure they are out of reach of pets and children.
- Monitor and reapply: Check the baits and natural repellents regularly. Ant infestations often require repeated applications to fully eradicate.
Patience and Persistence
In this ongoing battle against ants, remember that victory requires both patience and persistence. Like any seasoned warrior, you’ll need to stay vigilant and ready to strike repeatedly. Ant control isn’t a one-time skirmish; it’s a sustained campaign.
Deploy your natural repellents and chemical baits strategically and monitor their impact. Reapply your chosen weapons as needed, ensuring no ant colony is left unchecked. Seal up entry points to cut off their reinforcements, and maintain a clean and tidy battlefield to deny them easy sustenance.
By following this battle plan and committing to a prolonged offensive, you’ll gradually weaken the enemy forces and reclaim your patio. Keep your sword sharp and your shield ready—victory will be yours with perseverance and strategy!
Need assistance?
For additional reinforcements, the pest experts at Westside Pest Control are always ready to assist you in this fight. Contact us for a onsite evaluation or to learn more about our ant control services. Let’s win this war together!
Enjoy your summer, ant-free!