How to Make a Homemade Ant Trap: 3 Methods That Really Work

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If you see an emmet or two , chances are you ’ll shortly see many more , specially if there ’s food nearby nearby . While more than 12,000 species of ants exist , only a few type are likely to infest your household . The ones that do can be a genuine nuisance , though , ruin food and give homeowner the creepy - crawlies . as luck would have it , you do n’t have to shell out for ant spray , turkey , or other insecticides , or submit your family to their harmful ingredient . in force , homemade ant hole are simple enough to make yourself with factor on hand or discover at your pharmacy , supermarket , farm - supply store , or favorite on-line retailer . To keep ant army from infest your living space , try out one of the DIY ant trap formula that follow .

Tools & Materials

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1. Boric Acid and Corn Syrup

Most ants are draw in to sweet-scented stuff and nonsense , so this recipe is certain to lure . In a little sports stadium , mix 1 teaspoon of boric Zen ( available over the sideboard at your local pharmacy ) with 1/4 cup of corn sirup . budge well to combine . Transfer a few drops of the mixture onto a small firearm of waxed paper and place it where you ’ve seen ant activity . Whatever emmet find your bait will carry bits of the solution back to their colony . Then , you hold back . protest the enticement to wipe out the pismire you see , because they want some time to carry the boric acid toxicant back to their fellows . supervene upon with fresh drop day by day , and presently ants will be gone . This ant sweetener mixture can be put in at way temperature in a small certain container for up to 2 weeks . )

observe : While boric Zen is deliberate “ low toxicity ” to humans and animals , do n’t take chances . Be safe and place this homemade ant hole and unused lure where pet and tiddler can not get to them .

2. Shortening, Borax, and Sugar

Because certain types of ants are pull back to greasy meaning , the foolproof ingredient in this formula is shortening . In a small bowl or cup , mix 1 tablespoonful of borax ( a laundry booster related to boric acid , but milder ) with 1 tablespoonful of small-grained sugar , and then blend in just enough shortening or lard to make the variety crumbly ( about a teaspoonful ) .

Put lowlife of bait on pieces of waxed paper and aim them near ant trails . Trails are invisible , so the way to identify them is to watch ants journey in a straight line of merchandise ; too soon in an infestation , that kept line of merchandise brand the trail of scent they leave for other ant . Replace crumbs daily ( store leftover bait in a small sealed container or wind in fictile wrap at room temperature for up to two weeks ) , and ensure that ambuscade and excess bait are out of reach of pet and child .

3. Diatomaceous Earth

If you do n’t have a full - blow ant infestation , and favour a green method acting that ’s safe to disperse freely around kids and pets , utilize diatomaceous earth(DE ) . Though voiced and powdery to the touch , the substance contains the ground - up fossils of aquatic organisms called diatoms , which on a microscopic tier has sharp edges that cut into ant body . DE wo n’t wipe out a settlement , but any pismire that track over the pulverisation will dry out and perish . Purchase only a intellectual nourishment - grade ware , such asHarris diatomaceous earth . Do not use DE that is fabricate for swimming puddle filter , because it contains contribute chemicals .

Sprinkle DE inside cabinet , on windowsills , around room access , and anywhere else you now and again see ant activity . It will work indefinitely unless it gets blind drunk . If using DE outside , reapply after rainfall .

How to Repel Ants

After getting disembarrass of an active infestation with a homemade ant cakehole , follow this two - fork-like design to make your home base less attractive to the trivial sodomite .

Reducehow attractive your abode is to the pests by:

Repel nearby ants by:

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Materials needed to make three different kinds of ant traps, including borax, shortening, and wax paper.