Ants are both good and bad. Like most animals, they play a role within the ecosystem and contribute to its overall health. They loosen the soil, which aerates it and increases the movement of water in the ground. Moreover, ants clean the garden of dead insects and decomposing matter. They’re also helpful for pollination as they move from flower to flower in search of food. Ants, however, increase the number of aphids there are in the garden, and they may cause damage. Call us if the ants in your garden are getting out of control. We provide effective ant control in Burlington.
There are a few things you can do to keep the ants in your garden under control. First, try removing their favourite food source: aphids. Ants farm aphids for their honeydew, a sticky liquid derived from plant sap. If you can get rid of aphids, you can get rid of their honeydew and drive ants away. There are lots of insecticidal soaps and oils that you can use to get rid of aphids. Alternatively, you can remove them by hand or wash them away with water. Mixing water with pure liquid soap is also effective. Spray infested leaves, gently, being sure to coat their undersides.
Another approach is to use deterrents. Try sprinkling cinnamon or cayenne pepper around the garden to repel the insects. Ants don’t like the taste. To get rid of the ants directly, sprinkle some artificial sweetener. Some anecdotal evidence suggests that the sugar is fatal to ants. Diatomaceous earth, on the other hand, is a natural product that is known to get rid of insects. It cuts them at a microscopic level, then dries them out. You can find diatomaceous earth in hardware stores. Borax and sugar traps are also effective. Finally, if you can locate the ant hill, try pouring some boiling water on top of it.
How to Identify Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are big black ants that measure up to 25mm long. While most other ants stay out of the house and get into flower beds and patio stones, carpenter ants pose a threat to wooden structures. They dig their nests in moist or rotting wood. Decks, sheds, and older wooden homes are susceptible to these pests. If you’ve noticed that there are lots of big black ants on the wooden structures of your property, you may be dealing with carpenter ants. With time, these ants will cause a lot of structural damage. Contact a local pest control company to get rid of these ants immediately.
Pest Control Burlington offers a variety of solutions for ants, both indoors and out. We can identify the species that is causing you trouble and get rid of them quickly. Our technicians are thoroughly trained, licensed, and experienced in getting rid of ants. No matter how advanced or complicated the problem may be, we have got you covered. If you frequently suffer from pest problems, we offer perimeter treatments that keep bugs out of the house all summer long. Call us today if you have any questions.