How to Get Rid of Fire Ants?– Although indigenous to the US, fire ants are not insects you want around your yard or home. They are known to devour animals that come to their mounds, and their stinging bites can be excruciating. So, if you have declared war on fire ants, stop using chemicals. Yes, chemical will kill the ants, but why would you want to use toxins where your kids and pets live and play? There are always the safer option like home remedies, that can be used to get rid of fire ants.
So if you are wondering on how to get rid of fire ants naturally, here are a few home remedies that you can use to kill these pesky insects.
How to Get Rid of Fire Ants? How To Kill Fire Ants?
1.Cayenne Pepper
People who have used cayenne pepper against fire ants claim that these ants detest the pepper. So, it may be a good way to get rid and repel them, especially if these ants are invading your home.
How to Use:
Locate the source of the fire ant infestation.Thereafter, sprinkle cayenne pepper around the source. Sprinkle sufficient amount of pepper, so as to form a barrier.
And when you see fire ants running around your home, keep this cayenne pepper spray handy. Dissolve the pepper in a little bit of water. Pour the solution in a spray bottle. Each time you see fire ants in your home, spray this solution directly on them. This cayenne pepper solution will not kill them, but will stop them from entering your home.
Also read: 10 Natural Home Remedies for Spider Bite
2. Fresh Lemon Juice
If you want to get rid of fire ants naturally from your home or garden, lemon juice can be an effective home repellent. It will not kill the ants, but you will have peace of mind knowing that these pesky critters are not invading your property and home.
How to Use:
Squeeze out enough lemon juice to make a strong solution of the juice with water. Pour the resultant solution in a spray bottle and spray the area frequented by fire ants. Do it several times a day to keep the ants at bay and out of your home.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants?
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be used for just about anything in your home – right from cleaning to disinfecting to getting rid of fire ants. It is believed that the strong smell of the vinegar keeps fire ants away.
How to Use:
Mix vinegar with water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar solution along the ant trail. Not only will it get rid of the ants, but it will also prevent them from returning. Do this daily until you are satisfied with the results.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
4. Dish Soap
The logic behind using dish soap is that its ingredients may kill fire ants. Anecdotal evidence states that the chemicals in the soap dehydrate the ants, causing their exoskeleton to break down.
How to Use:
Make a solution of dish soap and water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray at the holes or parts infested with fire ants, or through which they enter your home. Practice caution when you use this remedy as the solution is slippery and could result in falls.
Must read: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?
5. Lye Soap Solution
Lye soap is extremely caustic in nature and can kill fire ants, especially those that have invaded your backyard.
How to Use:
Dissolve half bar of lye soap in about five gallons of water. Use gloves and eye protection while handling lye soap as it caustic and can burn the skin severely. Once the soap dissolves, pour the solution around the fire ant mound. Use a shovel to disturb the ants and the moment they emerge from their nest, pour the remaining solution on them. This will kill the fire ants without harming your pets, kids or the environment.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Horse Flies?
6. Medicated Body Powder
If you want the fire ants to leave your home for good, try using medicated body powder. Ants seem to detest the powder and react by relocating to another place. Of course, you will have to use this home remedy to get rid of fire ants repeatedly. Otherwise, it will be ineffective.
How to Use:
Sprinkle medicated body powder around and on the ant mound. Be liberal with the sprinkling. If you do this every day, you will find that the ants move out of the nest for good. This is the best home remedy to get rid of fire ants.
Must read: Home Remedies to Get Rid Of Termites
7. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds make good fertilizer, but can also be used to get rid of fire ants from your garden. It is claimed that the grounds confuse the adult fire ants who go out to look for food to feed the young and larvae. As a result, the confused ants cannot bring back the food, causing the newly hatched ants to starve to death. May not be a pleasant way to kill them, but it is either the fire ants or you and your loved ones.
How to Use:
Sprinkle coffee grounds on the fire ant mounds so that adult workers lose their scent trail. Do this every day for it to be effective and continue emptying out the grounds, even after the ants have disappeared from your garden and home. This home remedy to eliminate fire ants is a long-drawn method. So have patience.
Also read: 10 Best Ways To Get Rid Of Cockroaches
8. Sidewalk Chalk
Some claim that the chalk kills the ants while others say that the chalk makes them lose their way. Either way, it appears to be an effective remedy to eliminate fire ants from your home. So go ahead and use it.
How to Use:
Draw a thick line around entry points to your home using the sidewalk chalk. And, you are done. Ants will not cross the threshold and your home will finally be fire ant-free.
Must read: How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs At Home?
Now that you know how to get rid of fire ants using natural home remedies, go ahead and try them out. These remedies may take time to produce results and in all probability, you may have to use a multi-pronged approach to remove fire ants from your home and garden. So don’t worry.
