the essentials in brief
- Poisonous food baits are most effective at fighting ants in the kitchen
- Ants often come into the house foraging or hibernating
- If the ants have not yet built a nest in the house, they can be driven away relatively easily
What helps against ants in the kitchen?
Before you take any action, you should identify the species. Stray ants can be transported outside with a glass. If an ant road has formed, you should follow it to the origin and end. In this way you can determine what the insects are attracted to and where their nest is.
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Attract and eliminate
If the ants have settled in the wall or behind a cupboard, you should get rid of the nest. Use baits that have been mixed with an attractant. You can then fight the ants by hand or use a poison. This should have a long latency period so that the ants carry the poison into the nest and feed their brood there. It is not easy to find a suitable bait. Ants are very picky and do not eat everything, although they are considered omnivores.
Suitable baits:
- Cherry dish : Lay overripe fruits and ants rinse regularly with water
- Protein source : mix liver sausage or tuna with food poison
- Sugar : Place a bowl with a solution of water and honey or sugar
Confuse and drive away
If the nest is outside so that the ant trail leads to a source of food, you should remove this first. You can then remove the ants odor traces. That is not easy, because the markings can be detoured off the recognizable ant route. You should therefore thoroughly clean the floor and walls with water and a few splashes of vinegar or tea tree oil.
| effect | application | |
|---|---|---|
| cinnamon | intense aroma confuses ants | Sprinkle thickly on the ant road |
| lavender | Scent drives away insects | in front of entrance gates and crevices |
| eucalyptus | essential oil discourages animals | dribble into bowls |
Remove nest
After the ants have been fought, it is important to remove the old nest. If the insects have nested in the partition walls, you should think about a renovation. If the nest remains, it will be colonized again by immigrant ants within a short time.
Chemicals
Ant poisons work against red, brown or black ants regardless of the species. They contain various active ingredients that are used as contact or food poisons. Nevertheless, there are ants who are not particularly impressed by food poisons. In order to be able to develop their full effect, the substances must be mixed with an attractive bait. Otherwise there is a risk that the ants will not eat the active ingredient.
The chemical club is the last resort. Poisons pollute the environment and endanger health.
| Type | Main active ingredient | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neudorff Loxiran S. | Contact poison | 1.74 g / kg Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract | Active ingredient decomposes when exposed to UV radiation |
| Neudorff Loxiran | Food poison | 0.15 g / kg spinosad | Active ingredient too little concentrated |
| COMPO ant bait | Food poison | 0.8 g / kg spinosad | achieves good results |
| Celaflor ant spray | Contact poison, repellent | 1.0 g / l cypermethrin | can remain in the house for a long time even after cleaning |
| Fourmidor | Food poison | 0.5 g / kg fipronil | works even in low concentrations |
| Detia ant-EX | Food poison | 5 g / kg permethrin | ineffective as a casting agent, should be mixed with bait |
When chemicals don't work
It is often reported that the plague of ants recurs after a few days. This observation is not an indication that the agent had no effect. After a people has been exterminated, the next colony quickly follows. Ants send out scouts looking for new nesting places and food sources. They follow the scent traces of the old people and settle in their nests when there is no competition.
Problem case brown garden ant:
- most widespread ant in homes
- appears unimpressed by commercially available food poisons
- escapes quickly in the event of a fault
Fipronil
The biocide is an effective contact poison with a long latency period. It is mixed as granules in bait or given as a pouring agent. So that neither children, pets or birds ingest the toxin, the agents are provided with a bitter substance. After the ants eat the venom, symptoms do not appear immediately. They return to their nest and feed the ingested food to the queen and brood. After a few hours, the poison leads to death.
Disadvantage:
- may cause cancer
- is suspected of acting as a hormone-active substance
- can only be removed with turpentine and mechanical effort
Cypermethrin
The insecticide belongs to the group of pyrethroids and acts as a contact poison when used as an infusion. The residues are effective for up to five months, with an insect repellent effect also occurring. If the ants come into contact with the agent, they ingest it through the surface of the body. The active ingredient is distributed throughout the body and affects the nervous system. First, uncontrollable nerve impulses appear, making the ants appear excited and active. Then there are cramps and coordination disorders, until finally paralysis and complete inability to move.
Disadvantage:
- Insects can break down the active ingredient if the concentration is too low
- cannot be removed by water
- spreads over the house dust
Spinosad
The insecticide is obtained from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa and is used as a contact and food poison. Symptoms manifest themselves in paralysis after only a few hours. The nervous system is massively damaged, so that the ants are completely unable to move. Spinosad is an effective poison, but it has to be dosed sufficiently. If the dose is too low, it will not have the desired effect.
Disadvantage:
- dangerous for bees
- toxic to fish, aquatic organisms and algae
- causes long-term damage in waters
Permethrin
This insecticide from the group of pyrethroids has a broad spectrum of activity. It acts as a contact and food poison, which severely damages the ants' nervous system. The insects become immobile and die. The Federal Office for Risk Assessment advises against its use in private households. Many manufacturers therefore advise that the products should only be used professionally or by knowledgeable users.
Disadvantage:
- highly toxic for cats as they cannot break down the active ingredient due to a lack of enzymes
- toxic to bees and aquatic organisms
- contaminates untreated areas through house dust
Natural food poisons
Isolated ants do not have to be fought with a chemical agent. There are natural substances that, when used correctly, prove successful. If there is an ant nest in the building, these means will have no effect.
Tips
Before you fight the ants, you should determine them yourself or have them determined. The German ant protection station is a first point of contact.
Digression
Pharaoh ant
This species is not native to Europe, but was introduced from Asia. It is now spreading around the world, although it does not survive winter in frosty temperatures. The pharaoh ant is bound to warm surroundings, which is why it prefers to settle in buildings with a good temperature. Since it is considered to be the vector of disease, timely control is necessary. The species is a major problem in hospitals, as blood and pus are attractive to the insects.baking powder
The leavening agent does not cause the often assumed effect of ants bursting. Rather, baking soda changes the pH value in the organism. Certain enzymes that are vital for ants can no longer survive. After all, the ants die too. The prerequisite for a corresponding effect is that baking powder is used correctly. Every single ant must be pollinated thickly. Then the smallest particles clog the trachea and settle on the antennae. The insects clean their antennae and pick up the powder.
Tips for use:
- Help with a few ants in the house
- can temporarily reduce activity on ant trails
- not suitable for combating nests
Insect powder plant
Behind the species is the Dalmatian insect flower from the genus Tanacetum, which has been used for centuries for its insecticidal effect. All parts of the plant contain pyrehtrins. These are very highly concentrated in the flower heads. The daisy family is used today to produce the insecticide pyrethrum. It affects the ants' nervous system by damaging the nerve pathways. The effect is immediate. The active ingredient is broken down faster when exposed to sunlight than artificially produced pyrethroids.
Hints:
- grind dried leaves and flowers
- Sprinkle powder directly on ants
- Repeat until all ants have been pollinated
- use carefully as it irritates eyes and mucous membranes
- toxic to children
Suddenly ants in the kitchen
There are various reasons why ants feel comfortable in a human environment. They are not a sign of unsanitary conditions. Isolated ants are usually not a problem, as they can only have strayed into the apartment. Many ants that have already formed an ant route are more problematic.
Foraging
Ants are attracted by the smell of various foods. Sweet smells are particularly attractive. The insects not only eat overripe fruit but also the smallest crumbs that have accumulated in the kitchen behind the stove or under the seating area. Some ants are omnivorous and will attack meat, cheese or bread. Pet bowls or the open organic waste also provide ample sources of food.
Introduced
Occasionally, the insects are brought in unintentionally. This can be done using a flower pot that is fetched from the balcony or terrace in winter and placed in the basement. Earth-dwelling ants have often built a nest in the substrate and then spread around the apartment. In rare cases, certain species of ants end up in the kitchen with food packaging. The pharaoh ant is one of the species that settles in warm rooms with good food availability. It can be introduced, for example, through bakery products.
Tips
Put the bucket in a water bath so that the ants are flushed out.
Nestled
Modern building materials offer innovative nesting possibilities that the ants did not know before. Thermal insulation in particular appears to be attractive if it is affected by splash water or moisture. The material is reminiscent of the structure of dead wood and prompts ants to build nests. Often old roof beams that have been damaged by moisture and insects are also an ideal nesting opportunity.
Immigrated
If the building is not an option as a nesting site, you should examine the area a little more closely. A house in the middle of a natural garden also offers ants an optimal habitat. They nest in beds that line the building and easily get into the apartment through open windows or cracks in the door.
frequently asked Questions
Where do ants come from in the kitchen?
If you spot ants in winter, they are mostly overwintering species. They can nest in the insulating materials of the partition walls or in the roof beams, as this is where they often find optimal nesting conditions. Native species retreat into hibernation during the cold season and only wake up again in spring. Mild temperatures can disrupt this rhythm. Occasional ants find their way into the apartment from the adjacent bed or garden. You will be attracted by different aromas and come through all the crevices.
What can you do against ants in the kitchen?
First you should find out what kind it is. Help is available from the German Ant Conservation Office. After identifying the species, you need to find out if the ants made a nest in the building. Trace ant trails to the beginning and end. Nests in the apartment should be controlled and removed by suitable means. Renovation is usually unavoidable. Ants that are looking for food can be prevented from their activities by scents.
Which ants come into the kitchen?
The most common species found in homes is the brown garden ant. It can easily be confused with the two-tone garden ant. If you observe small ants that have a light and yellow body color, it may be the pharaoh ant that has been introduced. In contrast to these mini ants, large species such as wood ants and ross ants tend to avoid being close to humans. If they are flying ants, then the likelihood of a nest in the walls is very likely. The insects swarm out because they are looking for a partner.
Is there a rent reduction for ants in the kitchen?
If you find ants in the apartment, you should inform your landlord. This must take over the costs for the one-time control. If regular measures are necessary, the landlord can pass on the costs incurred as ancillary costs from the tenant. A reduction in the rent is only permitted if the ant fall no longer enables normal living.
