Finding a trail of ants marching through your garden or home can be both irritating and unsettling. According to pest control specialists Pest UK, April marks the peak season for inquiries about eradicating these insects.
Why Ants Appear in Spring
The experts explain: 'Depending on the weather, ants emerge from overwintering (insects don't truly hibernate like mammals) in March or early April. Often, April ants forage indoors because it may still be too cold outside.'
Cold weather complicates control efforts. 'When it's cold, the ants' metabolism is slow, so any insecticide uptake takes time to work. Additionally, only part of the nest may be active, meaning it can take a while for other ants to encounter the treatment. The ants you see likely come from multiple nests, following pheromone trails left by others. Control isn't just about finding one nest and killing it; in most cases, there are several nests involved.'
Professional Treatments
Pest UK recommends using insecticide bait, residual spray, or residual dust, often combining one or more methods.
DIY Home Remedy
For those preferring a homemade solution, real estate expert Thach Nguyen shares a method using common household items. 'If you have an ant problem, here's how to get rid of it. You probably have these ingredients already: Borax, sugar, cotton balls, and water.'
Mix three-quarters of a cup of water, one-quarter cup of sugar, and three-quarters of a tablespoon of Borax. Note: Borax isn't widely sold in the UK, but Borax substitutes are available (from around £6 for 500g on Amazon).
'Then take two or three or four cotton balls, dip them in the mixture, and place them where you see ants emerging. The ants will drink the solution and carry it back to the nest, killing the entire colony. The next day, you'll wake up to find no ants.'
