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Want to hear something scary? Ants outnumber humans 2.5 million to one. And that’s probably an undercount! I think of that statistic every time I see the trail of ants in my kitchen, headed for my cat’s food. Or that time last summer when I stepped on a fire ant hill. I like bugs, and I avoid killing these ubiquitous, single-minded, occasionally stinging friends, but with those kinds of numbers, ants seem poised to take over. Can you get rid of ants? I decided to ask some entomologists.
Spoiler alert: You can’t completely get rid of ants. But “there are several things the homeowner can do to reduce ant populations invading their homes,” says David Price, associate certified entomologist and director of technical services at Mosquito Joe. As with much in life, prevention is the best defense. Wildly spraying pesticides all over your lawn might feel good, but it’s unlikely to succeed. Ahead, Price and two other experienced entomologists explain what you should do instead.
Ant Identification
The first step to getting rid of ants is to identify the type of ant you’re up against. “Different ant species are pests for different reasons, and control can vary by species, so correctly identifying what species you’re dealing with is important,” says Michael J. Skvarla, Ph.D., head of the Insect Identification Laboratory at Penn State University. “Since there are only a handful of species that are regular pests indoors, it’s often easy to identify which species you’re dealing with.” Here’s what to do:
Snap a picture
Ants are always on the move, so they’re unlikely to sit still while you count the number of nodes on their petiole (that’s the stalk that connects their thorax, aka chest, to their abdomen). To you and me, ants look pretty similar, but to entomologists, these things matter. A high-quality picture will help you in your quest.
Note where you see them
If you see ants in your kitchen, they probably live nearby, often around your foundation or inside your home. “Commonly referred to as sugar ants, these ants can be several types of small ants,” including odorous house ants, pharaoh ants, Argentine ants and ghost ants, says Shannon Harlow-Ellis, associate certified entomologist and technical services manager at Mosquito Joe.
Ants inside will likely be following a line of other ants, so trace the trail back. Pay attention to where they go if you can find it. (You might have to play detective.) All of this info will help you get rid of ants.
Check with your university or county extension service
Extensions offer localized educational resources, and they’re great for identifying bugs. Find them on the web, where they’re likely to have free ant info at the click of a mouse. For example: “This pictorial key to the 21 most common pest species should work for most people most of the time,” Skvarla says. If you prefer one-on-one service, see if they have a hotline, email or walk-in availability, too.
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