HOW TO GET RID OF SUGAR ANTS

If you’re searching for how to get rid of sugar ants, it’s important to act quickly. Known for their love of sweet foods, these tiny invaders can quickly overrun your home. Whether you choose to handle the issue yourself or call in a professional, this guide offers practical tips on how to get rid of sugar ants and keep them from returning.

What are sugar ants?

Sugar ants are small ants with a serious sweet tooth. If you’ve found sugar ants in the house, you’ll likely see them in large numbers. Just like what attracts cockroaches, sugar ants are drawn to sweet substances such as lollies, soft drinks, fruit peels or spilled drinks. This often leads them to crawl over countertops and other surfaces in search of food.

Signs of sugar ants in your house

The most obvious sign of a sugar ant infestation is seeing their busy trails inside your home. If you don’t spot these trails, you might miss the problem, even if the nest is nearby or inside.

Sugar ants prefer warm indoors spots, so check them for nesting in places like:

• Under flooring
• Near water heaters
• Around copper pipes

Pay attention to their activity. Are you seeing just a few ants occasionally, or is it a constant stream? If you notice sugar ants indoors during winter, it could mean they’ve come inside to escape the cold.

Outside, sugar ants often nest:

• Under stones
• Around walkways
• Beneath boards

What causes sugar ants in your house

Sugar ants can invade your home for several reasons:

• Warm weather
• A nearby nest, either outside or inside
• Food sources that attract them
• Recent rain or garden watering

If you see sugar ants inside, observe them for a day or two to check if their activity changes. If they become a problem, here are some remedies for the best way to kill sugar ants both inside and outside, along with preventative measures. 

How to kill sugar ants in the house and outside

Ant baits, bombs and spray

An effective way to kill ants is by using store-bought solutions which target and kill the ants. Ant sand, bombs and spray are different examples of products which can be used to manage an infestation.

Ant sand works by killing ants on contact outdoors, before they have time to get inside your house. You just have to sprinkle it evenly over the area to be treated.

Control bombs work by spraying a mist into the air that falls onto surfaces, targeting insects and killing them on contact. It’s a good way to kill a large number of ants at the same time indoors.

Insecticide spray is the most direct way to kill ants. You target them by spraying the ants directly, or spraying surfaces you want to protect from them. These sprays are suitable and safe for use around your home.

Preventing an infestation

There are products available to control ants and prevent an infestation. Mortein PowerGard Crawling Insect Surface Spray Barrier Outdoor creates a barrier against crawling insects like ants for up to 9 months so they don’t get inside your house. Just spray on surfaces around the house perimeter.

When to call in a professional

If your infestation is severe and persistent, it may be time to call a professional pest exterminator for a thorough solution. 

Sources:

• Department of Health, Victoria. (Reviewed 07 June 2023). Ants: Pest control. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/environmental-health/ants-pest-control 
• Healthline. (Current version 10 January 2024). How to kill ants. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-kill-ants