Have you noticed that in these days of late summer your home seems to have become the favorite meeting point for ants? You are not the only ones. August and September represent the most critical months for the invasions of these small but certain insects, and there is a precise biological reason behind this apparently random phenomenon.
The large end of the summer gathering
In August and September it is possible to see large groupings of winged individuals, both male and females, move and fly trying to mate, because the period coincides with the most intense phase of the reproductive cycle of ants, the moment in which the colonies produce fertile individuals intended to create new anthills.
The males die immediately after mating, while fertilized females lose their wings and seek the most suitable places to found the new colonies.
But there is more. In the summer forwarded, with the development of new workers’ ants, the colony needs high energy food. The workers’ ants, those without wings that we see marching in an Indian row, become particularly active in the search for sugary substances: this explains why your cuisine takes on the appearance of a gold mine in the eyes of these insects so hungry.
We also put the heat of the end of the season: the still high temperatures keep the metabolic activity of the colonies high, while the approach of autumn triggers an instinct of accumulation. The workers know that they have to do stocks to survive the cold months, when food is scarce and the activity slows down drastically.
The weaknesses of the house
Ants are born strategists. Most of the time, a colony can be under the floor (especially if it is in wood) or the anthill is located outside, or inside the walls, with the ants that will enter the house for the sole purpose of looking for food. Given the dimensions, they can take advantage of every minimal crack: cracks in the walls, spaces under the doors and interstices in the windows. Once a worker finds food, he will leave a chemical trace that will guide the entire colony towards the booty.
Wooden floors are particularly vulnerable. The spaces between the axes and the humidity that can accumulate in the underlying part in fact create the ideal conditions for establishing temporary outposts. Even the Battiscopa often hide unsuspected passages, as well as the channels of the electrical systems and the water pipes.
Immediate defense strategies
Before resorting to insecticides, there are several natural methods with good efficacy. Vinegar is a formidable weapon: the intense smell disorieves ants and cancels the chemical traces they use to orient themselves. Prepare a solution with equal parts of vinegar and water, add a few drops of lemon and clean floors and surfaces.
Like vinegar, even the smell of mint does not like ants. Place a mint seedling on the windowsills, or crumble a few dry leaves along the usual insect paths, in order to create a natural barrier.
Let’s not forget the cloves: strategically placed close to windows and doors, they perform a repellent action.
Do you prefer more drastic but always natural solutions? The ground coffee is a good alternative: spread it at the access points to block the passage. Remember: ants detest cross the dusty surfaces, therefore substances such as Borotalco, chalk and football carbonate can be useful, because they will create insurmountable barriers.
The long -term strategy
Eliminating ants requires patience and method.
The first step consists in identifying the anthill. To understand where the colony is located, just follow the worker’s anti that collected food. If the nest is outside and accessible, pour over boiling water solves the root problem.
Prevention remains fundamental. Crafts and cracks sealed with stucco and silicone, preserved sweet and flour foods in hermetic glass containers, clean both crumbs and food residues immediately and eliminating the sources of humidity, repairing the losses and improving general ventilation.
If you have pets, avoid both dust and irritating substances. Choose natural methods: dried laurel leaves and mint tea sachets, to be strategically positioned, totally remedies are safe for dogs and cats but unwelcome to ants.
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