Steps to Control Crazy Ant Population
Crazy ants are common house pests that get their name from their rapid movements. The way that crazy ants move is not in a straight line but rather in a frantic, zigzag pattern. Crazy ants don’t sting instead, they are famous for their bite and releasing a formic acid spray as a defense mechanism. Crazy ants are highly invasive, infesting homes, recreational vehicles, for example, RVs, motor vehicles, and electrical equipment, which they can damage.
Crazy Ants Identification
The adult crazy ants are reddish-brown to dark brown or black. Their size ranges from approximately 2.2 to 3 mm in length. Crazy ants possess antennas, legs, and long, segmented bodies covered in tiny hairs.
Crazy Ant Habitat
The habitat of crazy ants includes dense vegetation, rotting wood, trash, mulch, under debris, in soil, under rocks, leaf litter, and tree cavities. In urban areas, crazy ants are known to infest gardens, yards, and parks.
The Diet of Crazy Ants
Crazy ants are omnivorous, consuming a wide variety of foods, including dead or living insects, seeds, nectar, small vertebrates, honeydew, sweets, grease, meats, fruits, liquids, and a variety of household items.
How to Control Crazy Ants Outdoors
Your first line of defense to control crazy ants is locating them outdoors. Inspect areas where crazy ant activity was seen for possible harborage sites.
- Look for forging ants outdoors.
- Check leaf litter, wood, mulch, ornamental plants, and shrubs.
- Inspect Palm fronds, the trunks of shrubs, and trees that are near your home
- Check drain runoff
- Old leaf boots, under rocks
- Check along pavements and walkways.
- Water faucets.
- Landscape ties
- In the soil of potted plants, both outdoors and indoors.
- Trash and debris.
- Compost.
- Tree stumps.
- Around mulch and flower beds.
When seeking to control crazy ants outdoors, ensure that these natural methods are put in place.
- Cut back shrubs and trees that are making contact with your home’s structures because crazy ants, other insects, and rodents will use branches and limbs that make contact with your building structure as a bridge to get onto your building followed by seeking entry points indoors.
- Gutters and downspouts should be free of leaves and other debris for the free flow of water.
- Make sure that leaky pipes and faucets are in good repair.
- Sprinklers should be working properly and directed away from your home or building structures.
- All cracks and crevices should be sealed with caulk.
- Openings where pipes and electrical wires enter the building should also be sealed with caulk.
- Repair thorned window and door screens.
- Install or replace door sweeps.
Applying Pesticides Outdoors
When applying pesticides here are areas to treat.
- Apply a non-repellant like Reclaim IT to “perimeter spray 2 to 3 feet up and out from the foundation.
- Reclaim IT should also be applied around windows, door frames, and other points of entry.
- Apply treatment where ants are trailing.
- Trees and shrubs should be treated for nesting ants.
- Spray mulch and flower beds.
- Spray yard debris.
How to Control Crazy Ants Indoors
Inspect these hot spots indoors.
- Kitchen and dining areas.
- Cracks.
- Voids.
- Crevices.
- Repair leaky pipes and water faucets.
- Clean up all water spills and spills of tea, coffee, and other liquids.
- Check under the kitchen and bathroom sink.
- Inspect behind Electrical Fixtures
- Indoor potted plants.
- Areas where sweets are stored.
- Areas that are both dry and wet.
How to apply pesticides indoors.
- Puff insect dust (D-Fence Dust) in wall voids where ants may be harboring.
- Under baseboards and appliances.
- Apply D-Fence Dust behind electrical plates.
- Use a gel bait such as Ant-Trax Ant Bait, and place a pea-sized amount near baseboards, in kitchens, and near entry points.
- Store foods in air-tight containers.
- Sweep and vacuum all food particles from areas of the home where foods are prepared and consumed.
- Always wipe down your stove after use to remove grease.
- Don’t allow dirt,y greasy dishes to remain overnight
- After your pet finishes eating, clean your pet’s bowl.
Additional information
- Sweet baits could be used far away to draw ants away from the structure during the cool spring months.
- Indoor treatment is rendered only when there is evidence of ant activity indoors or when a customer report is evidence of ant activity indoors or a customer reports seeing ants inside.
- Every 3 months, apply Reclaim IT to control crazy ants and other listed pests.
Other ant topics
Conclusion
Controlling crazy ants may take some work but the good news is you would have created a zone (your home) that is free of these insect pests. This guide will give you the solution to manage your crazy ant’s issues by reducing and eliminating their population.
