To keep your house free from insect attacks, you have to make sure that the removal procedures are not harmful to pets. Ensuring the safety of pets and the environment holds equal importance. When you hire professional services, the first thing you need to ask is about what kind of pet-friendly ant control treatments they use. From natural repellents to eco-friendly treatments, different procedures are available to have your house free from pest attacks. Even after the completion of treatment, following a few preventive measures is a necessary step to avoid their future infestation. Through this guide, we will have an in-depth discussion about how to keep insects out without harming pets.
Overview Of Pet-Friendly Ant Control
When we talk about pet-friendly ant control, it is generally based on methods that are eco-friendly and not toxic at all. These methods are available to eliminate the ant trails from your house, but at the same time, they are safe for your pets as well. Mentioning pet-safe solutions, it includes bait stations, natural repellents or essential oils. All of them help to remove the ant species from your property without causing any harm to your pet. Diatomaceous earth, vinegar sprays, as well as plant-based treatments are a few other common options to consider. When a company uses pet-friendly ant control Langley treatments, they also aim to go for treatments that are safe for the environment.
What Are Some Natural Ways to Repel Ants?
Vinegar as a Repellent
The use of vinegar acts as an effective vinegar ant repellent. It completely disrupts the ant trail by preventing them from returning on the same path. You have to mix two equal parts of vinegar into water and spray it on the entry point areas. Don’t forget to sprinkle it on countertops or the kitchen baseboard areas. Vinegar has a strong scent that deters the ants without harming your pets. For effective results, regular application is necessary.
Lemon Juice for Quick Prevention
Lemon juice is also very common because it contains citric acid. This citric acid interferes with the ant scent trails to deter them from home. You just have to squeeze the lemon juice on cracks, doorways or those entry points from where ants can enter. For regular use, you can also make a lemon as well as water mixture and use it as a spray.
Diatomaceous Earth to Eliminate Insects
Next, we have diatomaceous earth as an effective natural repellent to damage ant exoskeletons. Just sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth to the entire ant trail, in corners or near entry points. For continuous ant control Abbotsford, reapply it after rain or cleaning.
Essential Oils as Natural Deterrents
The use of tea tree, lavender, and peppermint essential oils is also very common due to their strong scent. You have to mix it with water and sprinkle it on the affected areas. You can also soak the oil in cotton balls and place them near the ant trails for better prevention.
Tips to Follow to Keep Them Away from Countertops
It is also important to follow some quick pet-friendly ant control measures to keep them away from countertops. They are always attracted to food sources, and therefore, their common presence is found in your kitchen space. Clean up spills as well as crumbs immediately. To erase scent trails, wipe the surfaces with a mixture of vinegar and water. Store the food in airtight containers, and never leave pet food out.
The use of natural deterrents in the kitchen, like cinnamon, lemon juice and peppermint essential oil, can also bring magical results. Seal gaps as well as cracks around doors or windows to prevent their entry. Just following the measures won’t bring accurate ant removal Maple Ridge results. You need to keep a strong check on your house corners and maintain proper cleanliness.
In Which Season Ants Are Very Active?
During the warmer months, i.e., spring and summer, you will notice very active ants. As soon as the temperature rises, they leave their nests in search of water and food, which makes them very noticeable in gardens and homes. Heat is the main reason that accelerates their metabolism and helps them with colony growth. This is the moment when you start noticing their increased trail activity. During colder seasons of winter and fall, they are less active.
Interesting Facts About Ants You Don’t Know
Ants Have Super Strength
They have great strength in lifting objects 10-15 times their body weight. Due to powerful exoskeletons and muscles, they can carry leaves, food and even other insects with great ease.
They Don’t Have Lungs
It is quite surprising to know that ants don’t have lungs. They generally breathe through tiny holes and spiracles along their bodies. Oxygen enters through these holes and diffuses directly into the tissues.
Ants Are Excellent Farmers
Leafcutter ants are a common species that is popular for growing food. They hence collect leaves to cultivate fungi, which is their primary food source.
They Communicate Using Chemicals
These insects use pheromones to send messages about food sources, danger or even trails to follow. This unique chemical language hence helps the ants to organize their colonies properly.
Some Species Can Swim
Ants generally avoid water, but some species can perfectly swim even in deep water. They either float in groups or trap air into their bodies to breathe underwater.
The Queen Can Live for Decades
Worker ants can survive for a few weeks or months. But in its comparison, queen ants can survive for almost 30 years. They continue laying eggs throughout their entire lifetime.
Ants Have War Strategies
Few ant species often engage in organized battles against other rival colonies. Hence, they use tactical formations and even take their prisoners!
They Can Clone Themselves
The Amazonian ant species Mycocepurus smithii reproduces without males. The queen clones herself to hence create an entire colony of genetically identical females.
Ants Have Been Around for Millions of Years
Ants have existed for over 140 million years, meaning they shared the earth with dinosaurs and survived mass extinctions.
FAQs
Is cornstarch safe for pet-friendly ant control?
By applying cornstarch in large quantities, you can have the ants smother a bit. It is completely harmless for the pets. You just need to sprinkle it in the areas where ant trails are found and vacuum it after a few hours. It will definitely provide effective results.
How does soapy water kill ants?
Soapy water helps break down the exoskeleton of ants and kills them without harming your pets. You have to mix the dish soap with water and spray it directly on the entry point areas of ants. It’s a non-toxic solution for a quick ant removal Burnaby.
Does baby powder work to repel ants?
Baby powder can disrupt the ants’ trails and is completely non-toxic to them. Sprinkle it on the ant trails or entry point areas. This will hence prevent them from navigating towards your house areas properly.
What’s the best way to keep ants off countertops?
To keep ants away from countertops, you can clean the kitchen surfaces with lemon juice or vinegar. As a barrier, use chalk or cinnamon. All these natural deterrents are helpful in disrupting the ant trails and keeping your pet safe.
Can I use neem oil to repel ants?
Neem oil is known as a natural ant control repellent which is safe for pets when used in the correct proportion. Avoid its direct application on pets, as many of them might be sensitive to it.
ASM Pest Control: Safe & Effective Removal for Pet Owners
Say goodbye to ants without putting your furry friends at risk! At ASM Pest Control, we use pet-safe, eco-friendly solutions to eliminate ants from your home while keeping your pets protected. Our expert team ensures a thorough and long-lasting ant control Surrey treatment using non-toxic methods that are safe for your family. Don’t let ants take over—choose us for a pet-friendly, hassle-free solution. Call us today for a pest-free home!
