Ants are usually easy to get rid of, but ghost ants require a more aggressive plan. Unlike most ants, these pests don’t come out during the day and can eat through plastic.
What is a Ghost Ant?
A Ghost ant is an invasive species accidentally brought into America from Africa on ships in the early 1900s. They feed on honeydew (a sweet liquid produced by aphids), and they like living outdoors because they prefer warm climates. These little guys also have no problem eating through plastics and other materials, making it difficult for exterminators to find their nests or kill them off with pesticides. This blog post will go over what you need to do to get rid of them for good.
This is how to get rid of ghost ants
1. Soapy Water
This is a fairly simple way how to get rid of ghost ants. Pour some liquid dish soap into a spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Put some extra strength soap in if you desire more cleaning power. Then spray the mixture directly onto ant mounds, trails, and anywhere else around your home where you notice ghost ants are entering or congregating. The soapy water will kill off some of the worker ants exposed to it immediately, forcing them back to their nests and some other workers who were contaminated by it as they tried to investigate the odor.
2. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Mix equal parts of vinegar and baking soda in a bowl and place where ghost ants are frequenting or entering your home. The mixture will give off an odor that the ants find unappealing, which causes them to stay away from it completely. If you need stronger measures, pour some undiluted vinegar into a bottle with 1-2 drops of dish soap added as a more powerful cleaning agent. You can even double up on this by pouring apple cider vinegar down your drains and sinks every night before going to bed for maximum effectiveness against these annoying pests.
3. Cinnamon and Sugar
This mixture is a deterrent to ghost ants and other pests that might try to enter your home through your windows or doors. All you have to do is mix some cinnamon and sugar in a bowl until the concoction is even. Then spread it out on a piece of wax paper and let it dry for at least 12 hours before crumbling it up into pieces about an inch big. Place these pieces along window sills, door frames, or anywhere else where ghost ants frequent or enter your home. The smell of this mixture confuses them, making them unable to detect their surroundings properly, making them very vulnerable. This method can be a lifesaver if you have a ghost ant infestation on your hands.
4. Salt and Sugar
This mixture is almost the same as the one before, except it comprises salt and sugar instead of cinnamon and sugar. Mix some table salt with some regular white granulated sugar at a ratio of 1:1 to make this mixture. Spread it out on a sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil, allowing it to dry for several hours or overnight until it becomes hard. Then crumble up the mixture into small chunks about an inch big in size. Place these chunks along window sills, door frames, or anywhere else where ghost ants frequent or enter your home. The smell of this mixture confuses them, making them unable to detect their surroundings properly, making them very vulnerable.
5. Baking Soda and Bi-Carb Soda
Pour some baking soda into a bowl, then add some bi-carb soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate). Mix the two ingredients at a ratio of 2:1, respectively. Spray this mixture directly onto ghost ants or droppings left by dead ants to kill any survivors through suffocation. It will also help rid your home of any lingering odors caused by these pests entering your home in the first place. If you need stronger measures, pour undiluted vinegar into a bottle with 1-2 drops of dish soap added as it is more powerful than simply spraying down your ghost ant problem with vinegar alone.
6. Petroleum Jelly and Boric Acid
Mix equal parts of ghost ant killer boric acid and petroleum jelly to form a sticky paste-like mixture that can be spread out where they frequent or enter your home. This mixture will kill off any workers who accidentally contact it directly as they go about their daily business, which causes even more confusion among the population as they lose the guidance of their leaders. You should also try putting some cotton balls doused in ammonia along with door frames, window sills, and anywhere else where ghost ants might frequent or enter your home as these ingredients work very well against them too.
7. Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar
Pour some baking soda into an empty bowl, followed by powdered sugar that has been sifted through a fine-mesh strainer to prevent it from becoming clumpy as you mix them at a ratio of 2:1, respectively. Spray this mixture over top of ghost ant nests directly to kill off any survivors through suffocation. These ingredients work very well against their infestation as long as they are exposed to direct contact with them. If you need stronger measures, pour undiluted vinegar into a bottle with 1-2 drops of dish soap added as it is more powerful than simply spraying down your ghost ant problem with vinegar alone.
8. Ammonia and Dish Soap
Pour some ammonia into a spray bottle, then add in some dish soap (even if it’s only 1-2 drops worth). Spray this solution directly onto ghost ants or any droppings left by dead ants to kill the survivors through suffocation. It will also help rid your home of any lingering odors caused by these pests entering your home in the first place. If you need stronger measures, pour undiluted vinegar into the same spray bottle to combine both ingredients for maximum efficiency.
9. Ammonia and Bi-Carb Soda
Pour some ammonia into a spray bottle, then add in some bi-carb soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) that has been sifted through a fine-mesh strainer to ensure it’s extra fine allowing the ingredients to mix more quickly. Spray this mixture directly onto ghost ants or droppings left by dead ants to kill any survivors through suffocation. It will also help rid your home of any lingering odors caused by these pests entering your home in the first place. If you need stronger measures, pour undiluted vinegar into the same spray bottle with 1-2 drops of dish soap added as it is more powerful than simply spraying down your ghost ant problem with vinegar alone.
10. Soap Water Mixture
Combine water, liquid dish soap, and liquid hand soap in equal parts to create a mixture that not only kills ghost ants through suffocation but will also help rid your home of any lingering odors caused by these pests entering your home in the first place. Pour this mixture down surfaces where they frequent or enter your home to kill off survivors, as these ingredients work very well against their infestation as long as they are exposed to direct contact with them. If you need stronger measures, pour undiluted vinegar into the same spray bottle adding 1-2 drops of dish soap for maximum efficiency.
Conclusion
When you see ghost ants in your home, it is important to take immediate action. The trick is identifying the issue and getting rid of them for good. If you have any questions about how to get rid of these pesky invaders from your home, contact a professional exterminator who can help identify the problem and provide solutions that will permanently remove ghosts ants from your property.
