One effective method to get rid of small red ants at home is by using a homemade borax and sugar ant bait.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of how you can do this:
Creating a Borax Ant Bait
The key to eliminating ants is to kill the colony, not just the ants you see. This method uses borax, a common household product, mixed with sugar to attract the ants. The ants carry the mixture back to their colony, effectively poisoning the entire population.
Ingredients:
- 3 parts sugar (attractant)
- 1 part borax (poison)
- Warm water
Instructions:
- Mix the Ingredients: In a small container, mix three parts sugar with one part borax. For a small batch, you could use 3 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of borax.
- Add Water: Add a small amount of warm water to help dissolve the sugar and borax. The mixture should be a syrup-like consistency.
- Create Bait Stations: Soak cotton balls in the borax and sugar solution and place them in shallow containers, such as bottle caps or small dishes.
- Placement is Key: Place the bait stations near where you see ants, along their trails, and near entry points.
- Monitor and Replenish: Check the bait stations regularly and replenish them as needed. It may take a few days or weeks to eliminate the ant colony.
- Be Patient: It's important to be patient and allow the ants to carry the bait back to their colony. Avoid spraying them directly with insecticides, as this will only kill the workers and not the entire colony.
Important Considerations
- Safety: Keep borax solutions out of reach of children and pets. Borax can be harmful if ingested in large quantities.
- Concentration: It's crucial to maintain the proper ratio of sugar to borax. Too much borax will kill the ants too quickly, preventing them from carrying the bait back to the colony. Too little borax may not be effective at all.
- Persistence: Continue to monitor and replenish the bait stations until you no longer see ants.
- Cleanliness: Remove any food sources that may be attracting the ants, such as crumbs or spilled food.
This borax and sugar bait method is a cheap, easy, and effective way to get rid of small red ants at home by targeting the entire colony.
