Need a Hand with Your Ant Problem? Here's Some Advice

By DENNIS ROBAUGH (Patch National Staff)

Don’t let the ants pester you this spring. If you want to know how to keep the little buggers from getting into your house, read on. There are as many types of ants as there are people, big ones, little ones, the ones with a sharp bite. Whether you have army ants, pharaoh ants, black garden ants, house ants or just plain ol’ pavement ants, there’s a solution.

While your foot is a formidable ant-killing weapon, our friends at Angie’s List talked to Richard Kirschner, CEO of Aerex Pest Control Services in suburban Chicago, for the scoop on other ways to send ants into the great beyond or keep them out of your house.

DIY options include baited ant traps, which cost between $4 and $8 per package, and spray insecticides, which run between $6 and $10 per can.

“There are very good baits you can buy over the counter,” Kirschner says. “It’s like sugar to them and they seek it out — they’ll eat it and take it back to the colony.”

Once the ants are gone, there are a few things you can do to help prevent them from returning. If your yard leads right up to your home, Kirschner recommends pinning the soil back a foot or so, using pea gravel or rocks to provide a barrier. Keeping the outside of your home clear of clutter can also help. Debris or clutter can serve as a harbor for ants. Kirschner says to make sure the sun can hit the foundation of your house.

» What does an exterminator cost? Learn more via Angie’s List

» Also, a homeowner’s guide to getting rid of ants