How to get rid of sugar ants | Non-toxic

How to get rid of sugar ants

Sugar ants are the tiny ants that appear in a marching line the moment something sweet is left out. They are relentless foragers with a sweet tooth. Once one scout finds a spill it signals the whole colony. The fix is to break the trail, treat the way back to the nest and take away the sweets, all without spraying poison across your counters.

Why sugar ants keep coming

Sugar ants follow a scent trail between the food and the nest, so a single sticky ring under a honey jar can keep a line running for days. They squeeze in through the smallest gaps around windows, pipes and baseboards. The nest usually sits out of sight in a wall or outdoors. Wiping the counter clears today’s ants but leaves the trail and the entry point for tomorrow. (More on the how and why: How do you get rid of ant trails? and How to get rid of ants in the house.)

The non-toxic fix

Six Feet Under kills sugar ants on contact with plant-based active ingredients and wiping the surface afterward erases the scent trail. Puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster into the cracks and entry points where the line comes in so the colony cannot re-cross. For lasting protection, prepare Barricade according to label directions and treat the perimeter.

Break the sweet trail

• Spray and wipe: hit the line with Six Feet Under and wipe to erase the scent.
• Cut the food: seal sweets, rinse sticky jars and clear crumbs from counters and drawers.
• Seal the entry: puff Dust to Dust into gaps at windows, pipes and baseboards.
• Keep them out: treat the perimeter with Barricade and reapply Dust to Dust after cleaning.

Related: How to get rid of ants and Non-toxic ants control.

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