Ants are a common pest, and sugar ants are one of the most common. If you've ever had an invasion of sugar ants in your home, you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. But how do you know you have sugar ants, and how do you kill them?
In this post, we'll answer those questions and more. We'll help you identify sugar ants so you can take action and get rid of them for good.
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What Are Sugar Ants?
So you've got a little problem with sugar ants. Not a big deal, right?
Well, it depends on how you look at it. Sugar ants can be a real nuisance, and they can contaminate food. They can also signify that you have a bigger problem—an infestation.
So how do you get rid of sugar ants? First, you need to identify them. Sugar ants are the smallest of all ants and can be found in groups on plants and trees. They are mostly black with a red abdomen and antennae. Their size varies from 1/8 of an inch to 1/2 an inch long.
Sugar ants are considered pests because they can cause damage to plants by feeding on them. Sugar ants also attract other insects, which can spread diseases. These ants prefer warm, humid environments and may nest in cracks in walls or under loose bark.
Once you've identified them, there are several ways to kill them: you can bait them with a sugar and water solution, use insecticidal dust, or place ant traps near their nest.
How Long Do Sugar Ants Live?
Do you have a sugar ant problem? If so, you're not alone. These tiny little creatures can be a real nuisance.
But how long do sugar ants live? That's a bit of a tough question because there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on the environment they're living in and the food they're eating.
Generally speaking, sugar ants can live anywhere from six to twelve months. But if they have a constant food supply and the right climate, they could live for up to two years. So how do you get rid of them? Let's find out!
What Do Sugar Ants Eat?
Sugar ants like to eat sugary foods, but they'll also eat other things, like crumbs, grease, and even other insects.
They're attracted to food spilled on the ground, which can be a real nuisance if they enter your kitchen. But don't worry—there are a few ways to get rid of them.
The first way is to try and find their nest and destroy it. The second way is to use a chemical pesticide. And the third way is to use a natural pesticide, like borax or mint oil.
How Do Sugar Ants Reproduce?
When it comes to reproduction, sugar ants are pretty fascinating. They have two methods of reproducing: colony splitting and mating.
When a colony gets too big, the ants will split in two. This happens when the queen ant and her workers leave the original colony to start a new one. The new colony will then be identical to the original one.
When it's time for mating, the queen ant will leave the colony to mate with a male ant. After mating, the queen will return to her colony and lay eggs.
How Do You Get Rid of Sugar Ants?
So now you know how long sugar ants live, but what about getting rid of them? You can use a few methods: bait traps, chemical sprays, or fumigation. Let's take a look at each one.
Bait Traps: If you have a large infestation, you can try baiting the ants with a sugary substance that they'll find irresistible. The best thing to try is honey, but other sugars will also work. Just ensure that the amount of sugar is high enough to attract them but not so much that it attracts other insects like mice or cockroaches. If you already have ample sugar in your kitchen (say from baking), this method may be the easiest for you to use.
Chemical Sprays: Another option is to use chemical sprays in your home. Sugar ants love sweet foods such as sugary syrup, honey, and dead insects treated with insecticides to kill them off. These treatments kill off all life forms in a certain area, making it unsuitable for living creatures other than insects. You can buy these products at any grocery store or hardware store. They only take one quick spray across an area where you see the sugar ant tunnels.
Fumigation: Fumigation might be an option if you have a lot of sugar ants in your house and don't have time to try baiting traps or home remedies. Fumigation involves spraying insecticides inside your home or building until all the sugar ants are dead. This is usually done by professionals who know what they're doing, so make sure you hire one before trying this method yourself!
How Can You Prevent Sugar Ants?
If you have sugar ants, their little pheromones can be very powerful. They are attracted to the scent of food and will follow it to your kitchen cupboards, pantry, and refrigerator. To prevent these pests from invading your home, you need to keep them away from your food and all other sources of sweet treats.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Keep food covered as much as possible when in the pantry or fridge. This will help keep the ants away from your food.
- When storing items in plastic bags, make sure they are double-bagged and sealed with an airtight sealer, such as Ziploc brand products. Plastic wrap is also a good choice if you don't have any other options.
- Store items that tend to attract ants, such as raisins, honey, and molasses, in small containers outside their original packaging so they do not have access to those items.
Conclusion
The good news is that worker sugar ants can live only for about 60 days. The bad news is that the queen has a longer lifespan and may lay an average of thirty eggs daily, so ensure you're thorough in your search. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is by combing every inch of your home, looking for cracks in the floor and walls, wall hangings, and furniture legs.
Sugar ants can be a major nuisance in the home, but luckily they're pretty easy to identify and eliminate. If you're having an issue with sugar ants, learn how long they live, what signs to look for, and how to kill them.
