If you’ve spotted sugar ants in your kitchen or pantry and want to evict these pests who have a sweet tooth ASAP, you’ve come to the right place. It’s frustrating to see them crawl all over a fruit bowl on the kitchen counter or an ice pop your kid dripped on the floor. Experts who study sugar ant behavior (yes, that’s a thing) explain exactly how to get rid of sugar ants fast (ant killers are your friend) and what’s a waste of time and money when you clearly have a problem inside your home. But first, get to know a little more about these pesky creatures.
What Are Sugar Ants?
Sugar ants is a term for any kind of ant that prefers sweet nourishment—especially from sugary liquids—and doesn’t require a lot of water. They’re usually dark brown or black, and don’t grow as large as some other types of ants.
According to Michael Skvarla, Ph.D., assistant research professor of Arthropod Identification at Penn State University, one common example found in many parts of the country is the odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile, whose scientific name isn’t nearly as easy to remember as sugar ants. Usually no more than one-eighth inch long, these brown ants are pretty stinky when they’re crushed.
Other examples of sugar ants include argentine ants and ghost ants. “It’s useful to identify what species may be causing you a problem because they may require different management strategies,” says Andrew Sutherland, Ph.D., an urban pest management advisor at the University of California Davis. “In particular, you’ll want to find out whether you have a primarily outdoor species that has come in or if it’s an indoor species that’s nesting inside the house.” For instance, Sutherland says, argentine ants readily enter homes but they nest outside. If you can’t ID the type of ant, your county office of the USDA’s Cooperative Extension System may be able to help.
The Not-So-Secret Lives of Sugar Ants
In the spring and summer months, colonies of ants who primarily live outside may send scouter or worker ants inside for food. “With argentine ants, you may even be able to follow their trail to see how they’re getting in and out of the house,” says Sutherland. Some ants, on the other hand, may build a nest inside, which may prove to be more difficult to control.
Either way, in the search for nourishment, sugar ants may make a beeline for the kitchen or pantry. If they find something to nibble on, they’ll help themselves to food for the colony, take it “to go” and spread the word about their goodies by leaving a pheromone trail. At this point, Skvarla says many homeowners freak out (we’re not judging) and make the problem worse. There’s no need to panic, because experts created a plan of attack.
Getting Rid of Sugar Ants Once and For All
You can try a handful of ways to give sugar ants the boot on your own. What works best depends on the kind of sugar ants you’re dealing with and how early you caught the problem.
If You Think You’re Dealing With an Outdoor Species
Sutherland suggests watching the ants to see where they go—and try to seal up access points. When you cut off their bridge into the house, they might move onto a different food source.
If You Need a Quick Fix
Fill a spray bottle with 10 percent dish soap and 90 percent water. Spray it on the ants, and then just wipe ‘em up. Sutherland says it’s an effective strategy for short-term control, like when you’re having company and don’t want ants to rear their ugly heads. “You’ll erase their pheromone trail and slow them down and confuse them,” says Sutherland. “It won’t affect the nest, so eventually they’ll probably return.”
White vinegar can be used in a similar way as a soap solution. “It will kill ants on contact and will probably alter the pheromone trail,” Sutherland says. He adds that vinegar and certain essential oils, such as peppermint, thyme and citrus, may also serve as a repellent during the very short time when you can smell them. “I prefer soap to these other options because it creates a residue that does not volatilize, and is present for longer on the surface,” he says.
If You Want to Tackle the Problem Head On
Buy ant bait that contains food and a slow-acting toxin. Sutherland prefers baits to spraying pesticides indoors because you won’t have the residue on your countertops and other surfaces—it remains confined within the bait. “Plus, you have a chance to knock out an entire colony of ants with bait,” says Sutherland. Worker ants may bring it back to the colony and they share it. If it gets to the queen, the colony will die out!
Some species react best to liquid or gel baits, while other species are more attracted to granular baits. Different brands use various types of food sources, and what ants prefer may even vary seasonally. “In winter and spring, odorous house ants in my area tend to be more attracted to a granular protein-based bait, but later in the summer and fall, they’re most attracted to the sugary baits.” Since professionals might not even know what types of bait will work best, they often put out a couple of different types. Copy their idea, and then be patient!
When the ants come marching along for the bait, you’re going to have to resist killing them on the spot. “Expect at least 5 to 10 days for the problem to clear up,” Skvarla cautions. What’s more, Sutherland warns that you may even see an increase in ants at first because they’re attracted to the food. If there’s more than one queen and the colony moves, you may have to repeat the process a second or third time until you wipe out the ants for good.
How to Keep Sugar Ants Outside
Once you’ve had a sugar ant issue, you’ll probably never want to deal with it again. These effective strategies will help fortify your territory.
- Landscape the perimeter of your home with rocks or pebbles, which will deter outdoor ants who don’t like to cross these obstacles.
- Seal exterior doors and windows, which can help with all kinds of pests. “If you can see daylight coming through the bottom of your door, ants can get through there and it needs to be sealed,” Sutherland says.
- Inspect the bottom of your garage door. Particularly in newer homes, the roll-down garage doors may have a gap at the bottom, according to Sutherland. If you see one, consider buying a threshold seal to keep out pests.
- Keep open food off the counter as much as possible.
- Move dog bowls and food away from exterior doors, which may attract ants from outside.
- Make another sweep of the kitchen before bed, cleaning up any sugary spills, whether it’s juicy watermelon that dripped on the counter or a spot of honey that didn’t make it into your tea.
The former senior editor at Parents who started the brand’s awards programs, Karen Cicero is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage.Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!) She recently presented at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
