In this article we will discuss DIY vs Pro Ant Control and when it may be time to call a pest control company.
We often see homeowners attempt to tackle their pest problems themselves. Sometimes they are successful and other times they need to call a professional exterminator to resolve the pest issue. There are sometimes when a homeowner can eliminate their ant problem themselves and sometimes when a professional is needed.
Why do homes have ant problems?
Ants need some of the basic necessities of life that you or I need: food, water, and shelter. Your home has all three of these needs and the ants know that. Ants leave pheromone trails to guide other ants when they find one or more of these basic needs.
Since the ants are using pheromones, a single ant can quickly turn into an infestation pretty quickly. Ants are also seeking the warmth that your home provides since they cannot withstand extreme cold.
Ants can enter the home through many ways including:
- Cracks and crevices in the foundation
- Missing caulk or sealant around doors and windows
- Through doors and windows
- Behind siding
- Many more
What are the common species of ant that Pennsylvania homeowners battle?
In Pennsylvania we have many species of ants that invade our client’s homes. From large carpenter ants that can quickly damage wood, to nuisance species like pavement ants, having ants in the house is a common complaint. Although there are differences in ant species, there are many similarities in ant species. All ants live in colonies with one queen, and the workers support the colony and nest. Ants are social insects and communicate using pheromones.
Knowing the ant species that is in your home will help to eliminate the ant problem
Some of the common species of ants that we have in Pennsylvania include:
- Carpenter Ants
- Odorous House Ants (OHA)
- Little Black Ants
- Pavement Ants
- Pharoh Ants
- Acrobat Ants
- Many More
What are some common DIY ant treatments that homeowners use?
DIY stands for “do-it-yourself” and many homeowners initially try to tackle the ant problem themselves. Humans have been battling ants since early history and there are many different methods that people use to treat and eradicate ants.
Vinegar Solution Ant treatments
Many homeowners will reach for the vinegar when they discover ants in the house. The acidity of the vinegar will eradicate the ants when sprayed directly on them.
Another benefit of vinegar-based ant treatments is that there are no hazardous chemicals and is a relatively harmless to people and pets.
One downside of using vinegar is that it will not eliminate the ant colony unless you find the colony itself and treat it directly. The ants that are eliminated by the vinegar will not have an effect on the ant colony as a whole.
Baking Soda and Sugar Traps for ants
Some homeowners will use a combination of baking soda and sugar to treat for the ants in their house. Baking soda is the opposite of vinegar in that it uses alkalinity to eliminate ants. The sugar is used to attract the ants to the solution.
Most homeowners have baking soda and sugar in the house, so they already have the ingredients needed to begin the “treatment”.
Since the solution is a bait, the ants will eat it and bring it back to the colony. The problem is that the time it takes to eliminate the ants is very long. Often, the ants that are eliminated by the baking soda solution are replaced by the new ants in the colony and ant colony continues on.
Diatomaceous Earth Powder to treat for ants
We can always tell the homes where they use diatomaceous earth (DE) as a home remedy for ants. This is because the homeowners often will use so much DE that it looks like it snowed on the inside of the house!
Diatomaceous Earth works like a desiccate, meaning that it removes the moisture and water from the individual ant.
Although DE will eliminate some ants, it works so slowly that it will never eradicate the ant colony. DE can be useful, when applied correctly, as an ant deterrent or prevention.
Peppermint Oil and Essential Oil Ant Control
Essential Oils like Peppermint oil can be an effective preventative measure against ants when used correctly. Notice how we said “preventative” and not “treatment”. This is because natural oils can deter ants and block their pheromone trail but won’t actually treat or eliminate the ants.
Using essential oils has some drawbacks. For one, some homeowners do not like the strong odor that the essential oils produce. Another downside of essential oils is that they do not last very long meaning that homeowners will have to constantly re-apply the oil to maintain its effectiveness.
Essential oils can be effective as a preventative measure for ants when used correctly but will not be able to treat or eradicate an entire ant colony.
Dish Soap Ant Treatments
Dish Soap ant treatments are similar in process to the methods mentioned above. Yes, it will eliminate some ants, but it will not eradicate the ant colony.
Dish soap is used by homeowners because it is available, harmless to kids and pets, and is easily cleaned up.
Dish soap can eliminate the ants that you see in the kitchen but there are many more ants in the colony that will continue to come.
Ant Sprays and Aerosols from the hardware store
Some homeowners that are DIY’ing their ant problem go the hardware store and buy some ant spray. There are many brands and varieties of ant sprays but they all pretty much work the same way. Ant sprays will definitely eliminate the ants that come in contact with the ant spray.
So over-the-counter ant sprays work right? Yes, they will eliminate individual ants but work too quickly so that the ant colony as a whole is unaffected. Properly formulated ant sprays will allow the ant to live long enough to be able to pass the treatment along to other ants and the ant colony itself.
Do DIY Ant treatments work?
If your goal is to eliminate some the ants that you see in your kitchen or house, yes, DIY ant treatments can work when used correctly. Will DIY ant treatments eliminate the ant colony or nest? The answer is almost always, no. This is due to the type of DIY products used, their longevity, and how they are used to eliminate the ants.
DIY Ant treatments can work on individual ants, but won’t eliminate the ant colony
What does a professional ant treatment look like?
We’ve discussed DIY ant control, now let’s look at Pro Ant control. A professional ant extermination company is going to treat the ants that you see and eliminate the entire ant colony. We use products that not only eliminate the visible ants that you see but will transfer back to the entire ant colony. Let’s take a look at what a professional ant treatment looks like.
Ant Baits
Ant baits are designed with 2 purposes. The first is that the ants will like the taste and actually eat the bait. The second purpose of ant baits is to not eliminate the ant immediately but rather give it enough time to be passed along to the rest of the ant colony. Many ant baits can be found at the local hardware store, but a professional ant exterminator will have the “prescription strength” ant bait that is professionally formulated to eradicate ant colonies.
Ant Dusts and Powders
Unlike diatomaceous earth mentioned above, professional ant dusts and powders will actively treat and prevent ant infestations. We apply ant dusts and powders to wall voids and cracks and crevices where the ants are and where they are travelling. Similar to the ant bait, the ants come in contact with the dust and transfer it to the rest of the workers in the colony. Ant dusts and powders, when applied correctly, will treat and prevent ants for a long time.
Ant Liquid treatments and sprays
Another critical component of a professional ant treatment is the use of ant liquid treatments and sprays. When formulated specifically for social insects like ants, the liquid will transfer back to the colony and the ant colony will be eliminated. We apply liquid ant treatments to interior and exterior of the home where the ants are and where they are traveling. The professional liquid ant spray is undetectable to the ants and won’t interfere with their pheromones. This means that more ants will contact the treated surface, and the ant colony will be eliminated faster.
When is it time to call a professional ant exterminator?
The time to call a professional ant exterminator is when you see any ant, anywhere in the house, right? Well, that may not be realistic but there are some signs to look for to help make the decision on when to call a professional exterminator. Some ants are simply a nuisance, and others can damage your home, so let’s look at some specifics of when to call a pro.
Carpenter Ants and large ants in the house
Pennsylvania is known for carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are large ants and get their name because they live in and damage wood. Out in the forest, they are beneficial in helping to decompose fallen trees, but when they are in your house, carpenter ants can cause severe damage.
Carpenter ants are the largest ant species that we have in Pennsylvania. They can be black in color to reddish in color. Traveling up to 100 yards from their colony, carpenter ants are very common to see.
When should you be worried about carpenter ants?
- Seeing more that 10 large ants in the house everyday
- Seeing ants with wings
- Finding piles of sawdust with little specks in it (called frass)
Seeing more than 10 large ants a day in your home could indicate a carpenter ant nest in the house
Seeing ants with wings
Ants and termites both will create winged reproductives called swarmers or alates. Both ant and termite swarmers will look like ants with wings. Seeing swarmers means that you have an ant or termite colony in or directly near the house.
Typically, a professional pest control company will be able to immediately tell you whether you have ant or termite swarmers. There are differences in types of swarmers or alates that termites and ants create and it’s important to identify which is which in order to resolve the problem
- Ant swarmers will have a pinch-point on their body called a node which termite swarmers do not have
- Ant swarmers have 2 sets of wings that are different sizes while termite swarmers’ wings are the same length
If you find ants with wings, it’s time to call a professional exterminator to identify if you have ants or termites
You keep treating, but the ants are still there
We have all tried DIY projects at our house that have frustrated us or made the problem worse. If you have treated the ants yourself and the ants keep coming back, there’s no shame in surrendering the job to a professional exterminator. We promise that we have seen every homeowner DIY method that has ever been used, and we will not judge your ant control efforts. Our goal is the same as yours, to eradicate the ants in your house!
Need an Ant Exterminator near you?
Now that we’ve covered DIY vs Pro Ant control, and you need an ant exterminator near you, who do you call?
Prudential Pest Solutions is a full-service Ant and Pest control company. We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to handle and resolve ANY ant problem you have. Don’t suffer another spring and summer dealing with the ants yourself. Allow the professionals at Prudential Pest handle and eliminate your ant problem today!
Prudential Pest Solutions provides ant control and treatment services to all of Southeastern Pennsylvania including:
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