Dealing with ants can be frustrating and expensive.

Pavement ants, carpenter ants, odorous house ants, thief ants, acrobat ants, and pharaoh ants; these are a few names for the tiny insects that invade our homes.

For many, they come when the seasons change, and for others, they’re a year-round headache. Some of these ants build their nests outdoors and make their way into your home, foraging for food to bring back to the colony. Other species find it easier to make themselves at home in the nooks and crannies of yours! No matter what, the one thing they have in common is that they’re a daily inconvenience.

Exterminators can also be inconvenient and expensive!

According to Angie’s List, most homeowners should expect to pay $150 to $300 for a one-time visit from an exterminator. But if the ants are resilient, the total cost can quickly rise.

Luckily, there are a few things you should try before picking up the phone and calling a pro.

The first step is to verify that ants are in fact the source of the issue. Richard Kirschner, CEO of Aerex Pest Control Services, says it’s common for people to confuse ants and termites, especially because carpenter ants burrow into wood and leave sawdust.

A good tip is to inspect the insect’s body. Kirschner says ants will have segmented torsos, while termites have straight bodies. If, after inspection, you’re sure you have ants, consider starting with a few of the inexpensive strategies below.

$2 Homemade Cotton Ball Bait

DIY traps don’t have to be complicated! This brilliant solution only requires four things:

• 1 cup of warm water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 tbsp. borax
• cotton balls

Once you’ve gathered the items, simply mix the sugar and borax into the warm water and soak a few cotton balls in the solution. Once the cotton balls are saturated, leave them where you’ve noticed ants. They will be drawn in by sugar and subsequently killed when they eat the Borax.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have children or pets, it is wise to make sure they can’t ingest the mixture. To do this, seal the cotton balls in a jar, then simply punch 2-3 holes in the lid, so that ants can still get in.

Once you stop noticing ants around the bait, remove it so as to avoid attracting new kinds of pests!

A simple alternative to this trick is to use borax, peanut butter, and honey. Simply spread the mixture onto a small piece of cardboard and leave it out. This bait will last a few days before drying out and needing to be replaced. They should be changed weekly until the ant problem is under control.

Killing the Trail

Have you ever wondered why ants appear to follow the same path? It turns out ants leave a pheromone trail that signals to members of their colony where they went to find food. If you find one of these trails in or around your home, get rid of it as soon as you can.

To do this, simply wipe the area with soapy water, all-purpose cleaner, or a diluted bleach solution. This will kill the ants and remove the scent trail that leads them into your home.

Please Note: Because there any many species, not all ants behave in the same manner. If DIY ant-control methods are not totally effective, it is best to contact a professional who can identify the species of ant and carry out the best method of removal.

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Source: gregthegardener