How to Kill Harvester Ants

About 1/5 to 1/4 inches long come (5 to 6 millimeters) harvester ants come in many colors, including red-brown, black and yellow. They are a few types of ants that sting. If you see harvester ants in your yard, you have several options for exterminating them and protecting you, your family and your pets from their painful bites.

Clean up.

Eliminating harvester ants starts with eliminating anything that attracts these ants in the first place. A tidy yard is more likely to be a disease-free yard. In the following example areas to focus on are:

• Fixing plumbing fixtures, such as garden faucets leaking or dripping sprinklers. Ants are attracted to convenient sources of water.
• Storing food for pet dishes, picking up fallen produce and cleaning up other sources of food.
• Picking up and storing old garden equipment, piles of organic debris and other sources of ant shelter.
• Moving mulch, plants and grass 1 foot from the bases of garden sheds and other structures. Ants tend to be attracted to these areas.

Pour Boiling Water

Boiling water burns and kills harvester ants on contact. The water also collapses and drowns the underground ant nest, making this a potent and all-natural method for controlling ants.

For best results, use 3 to 4 gallons of boiling water. Pour the water directly onto the grub ant nest, soaking the nest and surrounding soil with warm water.

Tip

Sometimes, do not wipe out the first application of boiling water completely from the ant harvest nest. It takes three or four applications of boiling water before all ant activity stops.

Warning

Handle boiling water carefully to avoid scalding yourself. Remember that the resulting steam can also scald you. Wear gloves, closed-toe shoes and long pants when pouring hot water on the ground to keep from getting scalded by hot water splashing off from the bottom. Make sure you have no obstacles in the way as you carry the water to the nest.

Sprinkle diatomaceous soil

Diatomaceous earth, a fine, white powder is made from ground, fossilized diatoms, and is a natural way to control pests. The powder is microscopic sharp edges that cut and kill insects, including harvester ants. Use a food grade DE, rather than one fitted with pool filters.

Applications for diatomaceous earth against harvester ants are:

• Sprinkle the powder around the plants you want to protect from ants. Make a circle of diatomaceous earth around the base of each plant.
• Dust plants, patios and other surfaces with diatomaceous earth.
• Scatter a thin layer of diatomaceous earth on and around a mower ant nest.

Tip

Reapply diatomaceous earth after it rains, as rain and watering plants wash away the fine powder.

Warning

Do not inhale or swallow diatomaceous earth. It will irritate your mouth, eyes, nose and lungs. Insecticide Ant make Made from natural minerals, boric acid acts as a low-toxic insecticide against ant harvester and other pests. It kills ants by drying and starving them once they eat. While you can buy boric acid-infused ant baits in garden stores and home improvement centers, make your own ant bait at home with common kitchen ingredients.

What you will need

• Strips of sturdy cardboard
• Honey
• Peanut butter
• Boric acid
• Measuring spoons
• Mixing bowl

Steps

1. Learn what kind of bait will attract the cutter ants in your garden. Spread peanut butter on one strip of cardboard and honey on another strip of cardboard, then place the two strips near the ant reaper's nest.
2. Check bait the cardboard over the course of a few days. The strip that attracts the most harvester ants is the bait to use.
3. Add 3/4 teaspoon of boric acid to a mixing bowl.
4. Mix 3 ounces of honey or 2 ounces of peanut butter.
5. Stir until the boric acid is evenly mixed throughout the bait.
6. Place the bait near the ant harvester's nest, smearing it on cardboard. The ants will host plants from the bait and take it back to their nest where the boric acid will make the entire harvester disappear ant colony.