How to Get Rid of Fire Ants and Carpenter Ants Organically

Fire Ant Mound

Fire ants and carpenter ants are visitors in and around our houses that we can easily do without. Fire ants, when disturbed, become very active and bite and sting anything within their crawling range. Carpenter Ants, while outdoors serve a useful function of helping breakdown cellular properties of branches and fallen logs, can create a tremendous about a damage when they decide to invade your home.

In my home pest control bag of tricks, I by far prefer to utilize organic pest control methods. Follow these tips to complete eliminate either of these ant species.

Things You'll Need

• Boric Acid
• Diatomaceous Earth

Instructions

1. 

   Fire Ants. They sure have the right name because if you have ever experienced their sting, it feels like your skin is on fire! I was doing a yard cleanup one spring and I made the mistake of lifting an old piece of sprinkler pipe with bare hands. The fire ants quickly crawled up my arms and stung me all over. It was terrible. To completely get rid of these nasty little ants you have to kill the queen. The picture used in the title of this article is a fire ant mound. They can be from 12 to 24 inches in height.

2. 

   The most effective organic pest control for fire ants that I have found is Quick Grits. Sprinkle some of this right into the fire ant mound hole and try to time just before a rain. The worker ants mistake the grits for a food source for the queen and bring it to her to eat. The grits expand and the queen explodes from the expanding grit. You will find that the colony dies soon after the queen dies.

3. 

   Carpenter Ants, while serving a very useful purpose in nature, when they form a nest in your home, they can be very destructive. They chew away at the structural components in your home and compromise your studs, joists, rafters and wood beams. If you start to see them in your home, and you can't miss these big boys, being up to nearly 1" in length, put up your guard. The first ones spotted are usually scouts looking for moisture, food or a nesting site. You should take care of them as soon as possible.

4. 

   Two products work as organic pest control for these bad boys. Boric Acid, which is sold commercially as Roach Pruf can be placed in their trail paths, and it sticks to their bodies and feet. They carry it back to their colony and it subsequently kills all the workers and the queen. It is best to try and determine where they are coming into your home if possible. Then treat that area outdoors vigorously. Indoors spread the boric acid along base boards, work it into the cracks between wood base and floor and place in cabinets, back of the refrigerator and range, if you detect them in there. If you suspect they may be nesting inside your home you will have to treat more intensively with the boric acid.

5. 

   A second method you may want to use as a home pest control is Diatomaceous Earth. This product is the remains of a unicellular water plant called a diatom. Similar to boric acid, the ant collects this powder on its feet and body and ingests after it travels back at the colony. The diatoms are sharp and cut through the digestive system of the ants, killing all the workers and the queen. You can spread this organic pest control most anywhere inside or outdoors, where it will not be disturbed. It is safe for humans and pets.

   Carpenter Ants are attracted to a food source, so you will find them around sinks, showers or any un-repaired leaks in your roof, windows or doors.

Tips & Warnings

• Common boric acid is much less expensive than the commercial brand Roach Pruf

• Do not breath DE into your lungs