The Return of the Ants

This time of year, one tiny creature reappears and begins to cause problems in our gardens – and sometimes indoors, too. This creature seems small and harmless, but in large numbers it can cause issues. And even one can bite.

If you hadn’t already seen the title for this post, the humble ant might be the last thing you think of. However, they can cause problems in the garden, and if some find their way indoors, you can end up with them crawling all over your kitchen worktops. Not the ideal scenario, you’ll agree.

Crawling ants start cropping up around April time and are present through until June. Even then the fun doesn’t stop – July and August bring the flying ants, which are another problem to deal with. But first, let’s focus on the ants you might be troubled by now.

Red ant bites

Any ant can bite, but people tend to associate ant bites with red ants – otherwise known as fire ants. Their bites tend to be more painful, although the pain is limited to around five minutes at most. The best bet is to stay away from a red ant’s nest if you find one, and let the experts deal with it.

Don’t try and handle an ant’s nest on your own

If one ant can bite, imagine what hundreds can do. Actually, best not. Getting rid of ants in your home can be done with a syrup mixture containing boric acid. However, this is not recommended if you have pets or children since it is toxic. You can deter the ants by using lemon peel or kill them with a mixture of water and white vinegar.

Nest removal is best

Chances are the ants’ nest will be somewhere outdoors, probably close to your back door or window, if you have ants indoors as well. There are ways to deter ants from using and/or returning to their nests, but they may simply relocate elsewhere – and possibly not as far away as you would like.

Hence why it makes sense to call in the pest control experts if you find a nest and you want to get it removed. The experts can identify the type of ant using the nest, treat it, and remove it so you are not hassled by ants anymore. Doesn’t that sound like the best way to begin this summer enjoying the outdoors?