The Best Way To Kill Ants

Ant infestations can be an annoying and unwelcome intrusion in any home, particularly in the summer months when breeding peaks.  Food contamination, stinging and structural damage are all associated perils that ant colonies can bring to a home and garden. Follow this simple step-by-step guide to learn how to kill ants and destroy their colonies for good!

Step 1 – Locate the Colony

The hub of all ant activity revolves around the colony. This is where the Queen lays her eggs—if the Queen is killed, an ant colony rarely survives. Locate the colony by finding high activity areas where ants enter and exit. Small gaps between paving slabs or tiny areas of upturned soil are the most common routes into a colony.

If you are having difficulty locating the colony, place several small blobs of jelly or marmalade around suspected areas to lure ants out and heighten activity.

Step 2 – Place the Bait

Place the bait around several areas near to the colony that the ants use as a route. Liquid bait such as Nippon is ideal. Squeeze several small droplets onto small pieces of wood and lay along the route, taking care not to cause any disturbances. Ants leave an odorous trail to find their way back to a colony, so human interference will deter them from using previous routes.

Step 3 – Monitor the Bait

Check baited routes daily to make sure ants are taking the bait. Ants will feed heavily on bait they like and subsequently take the toxins back to the colony and spread them around.

If ants seem to be ignoring the bait, try a different brand. If your bait is working, add a few new drops to the pieces of wood on a daily basis until ant activity ceases.

Tips

If you are trying to find a natural way to kill ants, try flooding the colony with boiling water. This is a quick and effective method, but may need repeating several times.

Alternatively, digging up ant hills causes confusion and disorientation and will lead to ants abandoning the colony. However, this won't necessarily cause them to leave your yard.