Ants are most active in the warmer months of the year when temperatures climb to around 20C and above.
Certain types of ants are also known to emerge after rainstorms to look for food and water, while others gather conditions are just right at night.
While the small insects nestle in colonies underground, they find their way indoors by seeking out sugar, and moisture.
A pest expert at Merlin Environmental said: “In the UK, ants are usually found in buildings where food is served. Once ants find a way into your building, they stay there and create more colonies.
“You should always keep all of your food in sealed containers or bags. Sugar must also be kept in sealed containers because if it spills on the countertop, ants will overtake the area quickly. If you notice ants entering your building, head inside and see what may have attracted them.”
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Food crumbs, rubbish, and sticky surfaces can all encourage ants indoors, so the most natural way to get rid of them is to harness the power of what attracts them in the first place.
According to experts, homeowners can make either a powder or liquid ant killer using a mixture of honey, sugar and borax.
The pest professionals at Housewife How-to’s explained that these work well because the ants “nibble at the bait for the honey” and the borax “does its damage” when they reach the colony.
To make an effective liquid ant killer, dissolve one tablespoon of borax with one-quarter of a cup of honey and stir well.
Then, dilute the sticky mixture with two cups of hot water and continue to stir until it resembles a loose consistency.
Pour the liquid into an empty spray bottle and mist onto a cotton pad or folded paper towel. This can then be placed on a small plate in a spot where ants have been spotted in the home – often around wall cracks and windowsills.
The mixture should be reapplied daily, each time shaking the bottle well before use.
Ant powder is just as easy to make, all that’s needed is one-quarter of a cup of borax and equal parts icing sugar or whey protein powder.
To apply the pest-repellent powder, place a spoonful on a small plate out of reach from pets and children – perhaps on top of a cabinet or under a sink.
Alternatively, use a dusting applicator to get the bait into tight spots like gaps near baseboards and beneath appliances. This should be reapplied every other day for two weeks.
The pest expert said: “When ants eat the powder, it dehydrates them within 24 hours. Meanwhile, they carry some of it to their colony, where it kills ones you don’t see. “
