Ants are amazing creatures! Did you know there are 8000 different species of ants in the world. The Bible mentions ants as examples of diligence and foresight, preparing for winter. They can certainly teach us much.

But no one wants ants in their cupboard, in play areas, in the house at all (unless you have an ant farm). Yet, no matter what we do, it seems they can get into the house in the most mystifying ways.

What are some safe and reliable ways to get rid of ants. First, without the use of chemicals, much can be done to discourage their presence. Clean up food items carefully, don’t leave sweet containers out, vacuum regularly, caulk any known gaps where ants could crawl in. Some have used ant traps successfully. Sticky strips catch the ants as they move. But these don’t deal with the root of the problem nor major infestations.

Real success comes when the queen is removed. If she is dead or relocated, the colony is gone. But to get rid of the queen, you must first locate the nest. To do this, track the ants movement. See if you can detect their travel patterns once they find some food. Check for signs where ants converge in large numbers.

Once the nest is located, it is time to remove it. Spraying will probably be necessary to do this. Some of the common outdoor nest anticides are permethrin as a liquid or granules, carbaryl as a liquid or granules, bifenthrin as granules, cyfluthrin as granules, and acephate as a liquid. Be sure the nest is soaked for ants are able to dig deeply, out of reach of a light treatment. Those who have tried drowning ants, or burning them out with gasoline have said these methods don’t work well.

Plan B is to spray the exterior of the house with contact insecticides. Some common ones are the following: cyfluthrin as granules, permethrin as a liquid or granules, carbaryl as a liquid or granules, deltamethrin as a dust, and bifenthrin as a liquid. Of course, this could be a big job and you may want to call a reliable pest control firm for this. If the nest is located in a wall or other hidden place, an exterminator may again be needed.

Setting out bates may also help solve your ant problem. These are poisons that smell like food to the ant. The ants that find it take it back to the colony to share it with everyone. This may kill the queen as well and end the problem. Common bates are abamectin, Fipronil, sulfluramid, disodium octaborate, orthoboric acid, and propoxur. Be sure to read the label and use as directed.

Of course, you will want to be careful using poisons, especially around children and pets. So if the problem is serious, you will probably want to call on a reliable exterminator. They know just which one, how much, and where to use the poisons so that there will not be any danger to those you love.

If you’re located in the Eastern Wisconsin area, I’d highy recommend the services of Prompt Action Pest Control. They have been providing full service pest control in Chippewa Falls for over 35 years. Just visit http://www.promptactionpest.com/ or call 1 (877) 877-6678 today.