Sugar ants are a common household pest that seeks out sweet foods and meats. They don't bite, but they are a nuisance. "Sugar Ant" is a catch-all term for small ants that infest homes and businesses in massive numbers.
Sugar ants are tiny, brown, or black in color and annoyingly persistent in their quest to steal away food from your kitchen cabinets, countertops, and sink. Odorous House Ants and Pavement Ants are among the most common sugar ant varieties found In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Follow the tips in this guide to eliminate these ants and stop them from targeting your home again.
Ant Control and Prevention Methods
Prevention is typically easier than clearing up an existing ant problem. Deter sugar ants from invading your home by sealing off all potential entry points like crevices and cracks or gaps around doors and windows.
Another way to prevent ants is by keeping your kitchen clean. Make sure all your uneaten food is tightly sealed and stored away properly. Wipe up the counters, sinks, and floors to clean away crumbs and smells that attract ants. Wash dishes immediately after use and take your garbage out daily.
Sugar Ant Pest Control Solutions for Current Infestations
While taking measures to prevent sugar ants from entering your home is a great strategy, sometimes they still sneak inside through vents and cracks. A single ant that discovers a likely food source can lay a trail for hundreds or thousands more to follow. If you notice ants in your kitchen or elsewhere in your home, there are ways you can deal with them:
- Clean your space thoroughly with soapy water or another solution to clear away food residue and smells
- Spray a 50/50 solution of diluted white vinegar
- Try a sprinkling of diatomaceous earth
- Soak cotton balls in a solution of 1/2 teaspoon boric acid, one cup water, and eight teaspoons sugar
- Mix a few drops of peppermint, cinnamon, or lemon essential oil into two cups of water and spray around entrances
Cleaning your home and eliminating tempting food sources is an excellent place to start, but you shouldn't stop there. Do-it-yourself methods that use various household products are hit-and-miss. They may help with your ant problem or prove ineffective. If you don't see lasting results:
- Place ant deterrent products around known and suspected entry points into your home and kitchen
- Call a professional exterminator
Most sugar ants enter your home from the outside. However, some live inside your home and build nests in the walls and quiet spaces. When this happens, you need to find and eliminate the nest to truly get rid of the problem.
Professional Sugar Ant Exterminator
It's not always possible to effectively deal with an infestation of ants on your own, especially if the issue is severe or the source of the ants remains unfound. The experts at Viking Pest Control can step in and solve your ant problem quickly and safely.
We use our 40 years of experience combined with the latest technology and sustainable solutions to deal with pests of all types, eliminating the problem and preventing new infestations from occurring. Request a free estimate or schedule your service today!
