To eliminate ants,find the trailsand nests.
Killing the worker ants will not solve the problem.
Instead, send them back to the nest with poisoned food (ant bait).
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Fortunately, most common indoor ants do not do much real damage.
Here’s how to get rid of ants with several easy-to-use methods.
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Pesticide sprays eliminate the few ants you see but do not eliminate the infestation.
A pesticide-laced bait will destroy the colony for good.
Common Ants
Ants are social creatures that form colonies with a queen and thousands of worker ants.
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Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants(Camponotusspp.)
may burrow through structural wood in the home and cause serious damage.
These relatively large ants (up to 5/8 inch) are reddish-orange to black and have wings.
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Consulting with a professional exterminator is a good step to controlling these ants.
Termites
Termites (Isopteraspp.
)are not antsbut can look the same in color and size.
A termite’s body will not have the narrow “waist” and segmented body found on carpenter ants.
Ants seek food and shelter between March and October when the colony is active and the young hatch.
Unfortunately, ants don’t go away on their own.
Take charge and use one of the recommended methods to eliminate ants.
Boric Acid for Ant Problems.
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California.
How to control invasive pests while protecting pollinators and other beneficial insects.
