The sugar ants are small black or brown ants that like to feed on sugar and sweet foods. There is a species of ant called the group sugar ant (Camponotus, Consobrinus); However, many people refer to pharaoh ants, pavement ants, and little black ants, such as sugar ants. These little insects love to invade homes where they seek out sweet foods, bread, and other fatty items.
They usually get into homes through window openings, cracks under doors, and joints between baseboards. They live in dark and damp places, especially under kitchen cabinets and sinks.
There are many effective natural ways to prevent sugar ants from infesting your home. And you may already have ingredients like vinegar, coffee beans, and lemon juice in your kitchen cabinet that can effectively control and, only if necessary, exterminate sugar ants. Some of these ants can bite or sting and even spread diseases.
Therefore, some people choose to exterminate the ants that are in their home.
Many of the natural remedies for regular ants and flying ants can also help get rid of sugar ants. Usually, you need to use a combination of natural repellants and traps to completely get rid of sugar ants.
The advantage of using natural methods to get rid of sugar ants from your home is that, although they are toxic to ants, most of them are not harmful to you, your family, and pets.
Table of Contents
Natural ways to get rid of sugar ants
Sugar ants are of course attracted to all things that are sweet. Therefore, many of the natural ant baits and traps include ingredients like sugar and honey to attract ants. Ingredients toxic to ants are used in the mixture to get rid of them quickly.
There are also ingredients that can be used as natural ant repellants to prevent them from entering your home and food cabinets in your kitchen.
Here are some of the best natural methods to get rid of sugar ants for good.
Boric acid and honey
Boric acid is a natural insecticide that can be mixed with honey to effectively kill ants and their colony when there is an infestation. By mixing boric acid with honey, you create a bait to attract ants which you then transport to your colony. The ants in the colony begin to feed on the mixture and the boric acid kills the ants.
You must follow the boric acid treatment with respect because it is toxic. It is a pesticide / insecticide and can cause harm if swallowed. Keep it away from children and pets.
To eliminate sugar ants, make a paste with 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of boric acid in a small bowl. Place this on a piece of cardboard and leave it where the ants can be seen. Replace the trap every few days. The boric acid and honey should help destroy the ant colony that infests your home. Keep putting the bait on until the sugar ants are completely gone.
Borax and sugar
Borax is toxic to ants and can be mixed with sugar to make a bait and trap to kill ant colonies. This works similar to the boric acid and honey method because the sugar attracts the ants and the borax kills the sugar ants when they ingest it.
Borax is a natural mineral but should not be ingested.
Mix ½ cup of sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon of borax, and about 1 ½ cup of hot water to make a solution to eliminate sugar ants. Dip a few cotton balls in the mixture and leave in jar lids where the ants travel. The sugar ants will be attracted to the bait and they will take it to the colony that will eventually exterminate all the ants.
Leftover solution can be stored in a bottle, but remember to clearly label the bottle and keep it out of the reach of children.
You can also make a dry solution of borax and sugar to get rid of ants that are invading your property. In a bowl, mix 3 parts sugar and 1 part borax. Place this mixture on the path where the ants travel. They will pick up on the borax and sugar mixture and carry it back to the colony where it will remove them when ingested.
Vinegar to eliminate sugar ants
If you’ve seen sugar ants in your kitchen, you can use white vinegar as a natural pesticide to kill and repel ants. The acid in the vinegar kills the ants and the strong smell deters them from coming back to your home.
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar directly on the ants and they will soon disappear.
To use vinegar to prevent more sugar ants from infesting your home, spray the solution at the ants’ entry points and pathways. The vinegar destroys the pheromone trail, and the path left by the ants will stop and prevent them from entering your home and kitchen. Pheromones are a chemical secreted by ants that they use to create trails.
You can also spray the vinegar mixture directly on countertops and tables in your kitchen to deter ants and disinfect those areas.
Vinegar is also an effective and natural way to get rid of flying ants in your home. Just spray the vinegar solution on the ants to kill them.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is another natural home remedy to get rid of sugar ants for good. As with vinegar, the acid in lemon juice removes the pheromone trail and prevents ants from entering your home.
Fill a spray bottle with water and the juice of 2 lemons. Run this mixture directly over the sugar ants to kill quickly, then wipe the area with a clean paper towel. Pass the lemon solution in the entry areas to prevent ants from entering your home.
Diatomite or diatomaceous earth
Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural compound that you can use to control sugar ants off your property or inside your home. Diatomaceous earth has a ton of other uses and can also help you get rid of cockroaches and fleas. DE is an effective non-toxic ant control substance, as it causes ants to become dehydrated when they come into contact with dust.
To stop ants that are a pest in your home, sprinkle food grade diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of your property. However, it is necessary to bear in mind that this substance is only effective in killing ants and other insects if it is dry. So, if it has been raining or there has been dew, you will need to sprinkle more powder again when it is dry.
Food grade diatomaceous earth can be used safely inside the home to kill ants as it is completely non-toxic to humans and pets. So, sprinkle around your windows, under kitchen cabinets, or anywhere else you’ve seen ants.
You can also sprinkle around pet food containers to prevent sugar ants from consuming pet food. You should notice that after a few days the ants have left their house.
Coffee beans as repellent for sugar ants
Instead of throwing away coffee residue, you can use it as an ant repellent. Some say the strong coffee smell repels sugar ants, others say the nitrogen in coffee beans burns the ants’ legs. In any case, coffee is a great way to control ants naturally in your home or outside and without toxic chemicals.
Place used coffee beans in areas where you have noticed ant trails in your home or where you think they are entering your property.
Whole cloves
Cloves are a natural insect repellent that also effectively repel sugar ants, as they don’t like the smell of it.
Drive nails where you can see traces of pheromone around windows, baseboards, and other entry points to prevent them from entering your home.
Essential oils to repel ants
Many essential oils are excellent non-toxic natural insecticides that can kill and repel sugar ants. Some of the best essential oils for ant control are:
- Clove oil
- Peppermint oil
- Tea tree oil
- Lemon oil
Make an ant bug spray by mixing 8 oz. of water in a spray bottle with ½ teaspoon of natural soap and a few drops of essential oil. Shake well before using and spray the essential oil mixture on areas of your home where ants are seen. Repeat every few days until the ants have completely disappeared.
How to prevent sugar ants from invading your home
Once you’ve gotten rid of sugar ants completely in your home, you should take steps to prevent a new invasion from ants.
Here are some ideas on how to prevent ants from invading your home:
- Seal cracks and holes where ants are entering your home.
- Clean kitchen countertops and surfaces from food scraps.
- Clean up spilled soda and other sweet drinks.
- Keep pet food covered or in sheltered places like the refrigerator.
- Use an ant repellent around your property to stop ants infesting your home.