Sugar ants, are a nuisance pest in North America and are very abundant. These persistent ants are very hard to see and are also called “piss ants”. They are found in North America and are many species. Unfortunatly to the untrained eye, they all seem to look the same.
It is very common to mistake an ant as a “sugar ant” or a “sweet ant” because they have been seen eating some type of food which is sugary or sweet. Since most ants will eat anything from carbohydrate to protein to fat, it is not hard to find any ant species in about any kind of food.
The most common species mistaken for piss ants, or sugar ants are Pharaoh ants, Fire ants, Carpenter ants, Thief ants, Acrobat ants, Argentine ants, Odorous house ants, Citronella ants, and Small Honey ants. These ants invade homes, condos, townhouses, apartments, and any shelter that has food readily available for nesting sites.
To prevent and control a sugar ant invasion in your home you will need to follow these simple steps to be rid of them, Keep your kitchen sink clean and dry, wipe your counter tops with bleach every night, Sweep and mop your kitchen floor with bleach every night, (Mainly during the summer), Vacuum the floors and spaces where food is consumer to avoid the sugar ant invasion, Change your garbage bags every night and take the trash out on a regular basis. These simple and easy steps can control or prevent the sugar ants from giving you a headache.
The most common baits that are used to get rid of sugar ants, and are called sweet baits. And in sweet baits the most common ingredient is boric acid, or Borax. Most sugar ants and ants in general are prone to boric acid. Borax is mined in California and is refined and dissolved into all manners of ant bait systems. It is non-toxic to humans unless you inhale or ingest in large amounts which I highly suggest that you not do it. Borax however does not kill the ants right away, and the ants take the bait back to the colony and share them with them. Because borax is a slow poison this is how a whole colony can be eliminated.
Piss ants have also made me a little more aware of the different baits out on the market. Out of all of them I highly recommend Terro brand baits. They are really effective and can eliminate a colony fairly quickly. The best part about Terro is that you can find it in many grocery stores and even hardware stores. However if the ants are proving to be a headache, I recommend hiring a professional; most offer a guarantee and will do the legwork for you. They also work with you on how to eliminate these pests and give you tips on how to prevent them in the future.