As the summer weather begins many will be dreading the swarms of ants that inevitably start to invade their kitchens, dinner tables, and conservatories. Despite putting down ant powder, spraying them, and trying everything else to keep them out they seem unstoppable in the warmer months.
But Jonathan Nicholls, a pest control expert, has some tips for keeping them at bay. He explained that they show up in greater numbers in the summer as they're attracted to any space where there's food and people are more likely to eat outdoors and leave their doors and windows open in warmer weather.
He told the Mirror that ants' metabolic rate increases in the summer, too – so their activity spikes just in time for them to invade your barbecue. It's also their peak breeding season. Jonathan said: "During this time they require more resources and the worker ants will go out to find food sources. This can result in an increased presence of ants in your garden or in your home."
Read more: Mum left badly burned after trying TikTok egg 'hack'
Jonathan added that eating outdoors was a big attraction for ants – as were ripe fruits, which he said should be kept in the fridge or well-covered. He also recommended cleaning up any sources of food scents that could cause ants to enter your house. Any stray bits of used cutlery or pieces of fruit left on a counter should be dealt with, especially to avoid black garden ants which are particularly attracted to pheromones from sweet food.
"Killing the ants may not prevent them from coming back," Jonathan warned, saying keeping kitchen bins covered and emptied regularly, ensuring no food residue is left inside the bin, is important. He also recommended sealing gaps beneath doors or any other unsealed cracks like plumbing entry points.
As ants don't break their trails you can also follow them to find the source of the pheromones attracting them – but sweeping the ants away isn't enough to break the trail. Jonathan said you can destroy the trail by "mixing one part vinegar with three parts water and simply spray this mixture in any space where you’ve seen the ants".
He also had a few suggestions for naturally repelling the ants from your home altogether. "Ants hate the scent of lavender and peppermint. Mix together a solution of either lavender oil or peppermint oil with water and spray this mixture on any entry points such as around windows and doors." He also recommended using the smells of citrus fruits or cinnamon, eucalyptus, or garlic – but be warned that peppermint, cinnamon and citrus oils can be toxic to dogs and cats.
READ NEXT:
