Ants are tiny, but they pack a punch. A scout ant can quickly drag down a whole colony and the ant trail is quickly overcrowded. However, chemical clubs should not be used immediately. They have many disadvantages and are often pointless.

Ants thrive in environments with a tasty supply of food

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. What really helps?
  3. Chemicals
  4. Natural stomach poisons
  5. root cause
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • Poisonous feed baits are most effective in fighting ants in the kitchen
    • Ants often come into the home to forage or to hibernate
    • If the ants have not yet built a nest in the house, they can be driven away relatively easily

    What helps against ants in the kitchen?

    Before taking any action, you should identify the species. Stray ants can be transported outside with a glass. If an ant trail has formed, you should follow it to the origin and end. This allows you to determine what the insects are attracted to and where their nest is located.

    Attract and eliminate

    If the ants have settled in the wall or behind a cupboard, you should get rid of the nest. Use baits mixed with an attractant. You can then fight the ants by hand or use a stomach poison. This should have a long latency period for the ants to transport the poison into the nest and feed their brood there. Finding the right bait is not easy. Ants are very picky and will not eat everything, although they are considered omnivores.

    Suitable baits:

    • cherry plate: lay out overripe fruits and periodically rinse ants with water
    • protein source: Mix liver sausage or tuna with stomach poison
    • sugar: Set up a bowl with a solution of water and honey or sugar
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    Confuse and expel

    If the nest is outside so that the ant trail leads to a food source, you should eliminate it first. You can then remove the scent traces left by the ants. This is not easy, because the markings can be detours away from the recognizable ant trail. You should therefore clean the floor and walls thoroughly with water and a few dashes of vinegar or tea tree oil.

    effect application
    cinammon intense aroma confuses ants sprinkle thickly on the ant trail
    lavender Fragrance drives away insects place in front of entrance gates and columns
    eucalyptus essential oil repels animals drip into bowls

    remove nest

    After the ants have been fought, it is important to get rid of the old nest. If the insects have nested in the partition walls, you should think about a renovation. If the nest remains, it will be colonized again by immigrant ants within a short time.

    Chemicals

    The use of chemical sprays should be avoided if possible

    Ant poisons are effective against red, brown, or black ants, regardless of the species. They contain various active ingredients that are used as contact or ingestion poisons. Nevertheless, there are ants that are not impressed by stomach poisons. In order to develop their full effect, the substances must be mixed with an attractive bait. Otherwise there is a risk that the ants will not eat the active substance.

    The chemical club is the last resort. Poisons pollute the environment and endanger health.

    Type main active ingredient notice
    Neudorff Loxiran S contact poison 1.74 g/kg Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract Active substance decomposes under UV radiation
    Neudorff Loxirane stomach poison 0.15 g/kg spinosad Active substance not concentrated enough
    COMPO ant bait stomach poison 0.8 g/kg spinosad achieves good results
    Celaflor ant spray Contact poison, repellent 1.0 g/l cypermethrin can remain in the house for a long time even after cleaning
    Fourmidor stomach poison 0.5 g/kg fipronil works even at low concentrations
    Detia Ant-EX stomach poison 5 g/kg permethrin ineffective as a casting agent, should be mixed with bait

    When chemicals don't work

    It is often reported that the ant plague reappears after a few days. This observation is not an indication that the drug had no effect. After a people has been wiped out, the next colony quickly follows. Ants send out scouts in search of new nesting sites and food sources. They follow the scent trails of the ancient people and settle in their nests when there is no competition.

    Problem case brown garden ant:

    • most widespread ant in houses
    • appears unimpressed by commercially available stomach poisons
    • flees quickly when disturbed

    Poisonous long-acting baits are very effective in fighting ants, but they kill the entire colony

    fipronil

    The biocide is an effective contact poison with a long latent period. It is mixed into bait as granules or administered as a pouring agent. To prevent children, pets or birds from ingesting the toxin, the remedies are provided with a bitter substance. After the ants eat the poison, symptoms do not appear immediately. They return to their nest and feed the ingested food to the queen and brood. After a few hours, the poison leads to death.

    Disadvantage:

    • may cause cancer
    • is suspected of acting as a hormone-active substance
    • can only be removed with turpentine and mechanical effort

    cybermethrin

    The insecticide belongs to the group of pyrethroids and acts as a contact poison when applied as an infusion. The residues are effective for up to five months, with an insect repellent effect also occurring. If the ants come into contact with the agent, they absorb it through the body surface. The active ingredient is distributed throughout the body and affects the nervous system. First, uncontrollable nerve impulses occur, making the ants appear agitated and active. This is followed by cramps and coordination disorders, until finally paralysis and complete inability to move occur.

    Disadvantage:

    • Insects can break down active ingredients if the concentration is too low
    • cannot be removed by water
    • spreads over the house dust

    spinosad

    The insecticide is obtained from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa and serves as a contact and stomach poison. After just a few hours, symptoms appear that manifest themselves in signs of paralysis. The nervous system is massively damaged, so that the ants are completely unable to move. Spinosad is a potent poison, but it must be dosed adequately. If the dose is too low, it will not have the desired effect.

    Disadvantage:

    • dangerous for bees
    • Toxic to fish, aquatic organisms and algae
    • causes long-term damage in water bodies

    permethrin

    This insecticide from the group of pyrethroids has a wide spectrum of action. It acts as a contact and ingestion poison, which severely damages the nervous system of the ants. The insects become immobilized and die. The Federal Office for Risk Assessment advises against use in private households. Therefore, many manufacturers indicate that the products should only be used professionally or by knowledgeable users.

    Disadvantage:

    • highly toxic for cats, as they cannot break down the active ingredient due to the lack of enzymes
    • toxic to bees and aquatic organisms
    • contaminates untreated surfaces via house dust

    Natural stomach poisons

    Isolated ants do not have to be fought immediately with a chemical agent. There are natural substances that prove to be successful when used correctly. If there is an ant nest in the building, these remedies will have no effect.

    tips

    Before you fight the ants, you should determine them yourself or have them determined. The German Ant Control Center is a first point of contact.

    digression

    pharaoh ant

    This species is not native to Europe but was introduced from Asia. It is now spreading worldwide, although it does not survive the winter in freezing temperatures. The pharaoh ant is bound to warm environments, which is why it prefers to settle in well-tempered buildings. Since it is considered a disease carrier, timely control is necessary. The species poses a major problem in hospitals because the insects are attracted to blood and pus.

    baking powder

    Baking soda only kills ants when sprinkled directly on them

    The leavening agent does not cause the often suspected effect of bursting ants. Rather, baking soda changes the pH value in the organism. Certain enzymes that are vital for ants can no longer survive. Eventually the ants die too. A prerequisite for a corresponding effect is that baking powder is used correctly. Every single ant has to be heavily pollinated. Then the smallest particles clog tracheae and settle on the antennae. The insects clean their feelers and ingest the powder.

    Tips for application:

    • Help with isolated ants in the house
    • can temporarily reduce activity on ant trails
    • not suitable for fighting nests

    insect powder plant

    The species hides the Dalmatian insect flower from the Tanacetum genus, which has been used for centuries for its insecticidal effect. All parts of the plant contain pyrethrins. These are very highly concentrated in the flower heads. The daisy family is used today to make the insecticide pyrethrum. It affects the nervous system of the ants because it damages the nerve tracts. The effect is immediate. The active ingredient is broken down more quickly when exposed to sunlight than artificially produced pyrethroids.

    Hints:

    • crush dried leaves and flowers
    • Sprinkle powder directly on ants
    • Repeat until all ants have been pollinated
    • Use carefully as it irritates eyes and mucous membranes
    • toxic to children

    Suddenly ants in the kitchen

    There are various reasons why ants feel comfortable in human surroundings. They are not a sign of unsanitary conditions. Scattered ants are usually not a problem, as they can only have gotten lost in the apartment. Many ants that have already formed an ant trail are already more problematic.

    foraging

    Ants are magically attracted to sweet food sources

    Ants are attracted to the smell of various foods. Sweet smells are particularly attractive. The insects eat not only overripe fruit but also the smallest crumbs that have accumulated in the kitchen behind the stove or under the seating area. Some ants are omnivores and will eat meat, cheese or bread. Pet food bowls or the open organic waste also offer plentiful food sources.

    introduced

    Occasionally, the insects are introduced unintentionally. This can be done with a flower pot that is taken from the balcony or patio in winter and placed in the basement. More often, earth-dwelling ants have built a nest in the substrate and then spread throughout the apartment. In rare cases, certain species of ants get into the kitchen with food wrappers. The pharaoh ant is one of the species that settles in warm spaces with good food availability. It can be introduced, for example, through bakery products.

    tips

    Place the bucket in a water bath to flush out the ants.

    ensconced

    Modern building materials offer innovative nesting opportunities that the ants were previously unfamiliar with. Thermal insulation in particular seems to be attractive when it is affected by splashing water or moisture. The material is reminiscent of the structure of dead wood and encourages ants to build nests. Old roof beams that have been previously damaged by moisture and insects are often an ideal nesting opportunity.

    immigrated

    If the building is not an option as a nesting site, you should examine the surroundings a little more closely. A house in the middle of a natural garden also offers ants an optimal habitat. They nest in beds that line the building and easily get into the home through open windows or door cracks.

    frequently asked Questions

    Where do ants come from in the kitchen?

    If you spot ants in winter, they are mostly hibernating species. They can nest in the insulating materials of the partition walls or in roof beams, because here they often find optimal nesting conditions. Native species go into hibernation during the cold season and only wake up again in spring. Mild temperatures can disrupt this rhythm. A few ants find their way into the apartment from the adjacent bed or garden. They are attracted by different aromas and can get through all the crevices.

    What to do against ants in the kitchen?

    First you should find out what species it is. There is help from the German Ant Protection Agency. After identifying the species, you need to find out if the ants made a nest inside the building. Follow ant trails to the beginning and end. Nests in the home should be combated and removed by appropriate means. Renovation is usually unavoidable. Ants that are looking for food can be prevented from their activities by scents.

    What ants come into the kitchen?

    The most common species found in homes is the brown garden ant. It can easily be confused with the two-colored garden ant. If you observe small ants that have a light and yellow body colour, it may be the pharaoh ant that was introduced. In contrast to these mini ants, large species such as wood ants and carpenter ants tend to avoid close proximity to humans. If we are talking about flying ants, then the probability of a nest in the walls is very high. The insects swarm out because they are looking for a partner.

    Is there a rent reduction for ants in the kitchen?

    If you find ants in the apartment, you should inform your landlord. The latter must bear the costs for the one-off control. If regular measures are necessary, the landlord can pass on the costs incurred to the tenants as ancillary costs. A reduction in rent is only permitted if the ant drop no longer allows normal living.

Category:

Animals in the garden