How to Kill Meat Ants

A native ant species of Australia, meat ants, also known as Mount ants or tyrant ants, are a large ant with black bodies and red heads. When the meat ant moves into a territory, it usually pushes out another ant in the area.

Because they eat other insects, an infestation of flesh ants can mean a loss of other important insects that keep the environment in balance. You could hire exterminators to deal with an infestation, which can be expensive, or you can remove an infestation for less money using some of the same methods you would use to deal with other ant species.

What you will need

• Borax
• White sugar
• Gloves
• Glass jars
• Toilet paper
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Liquid dish detergent

Method 1: Ant Motel

1. Mix together 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of white sugar. Be sure to Wear gloves when mixing the ingredients to protect your skin.
2. Divide the mixture between four separate glass jars.
3. Crumble some toilet paper and add to each jar.
4. Add water to the jars until the jars are filled 1 inch from the top of the jar.
5. Place the lids on the jars and punch five or six holes in the lids using a hammer and nail.
6. Place the jars where you will see a concentration of ants. The ants will be attracted to the sweetness in the jars and enter. Then they will drown in the liquid or be killed by the borax.

Method 2: Dish Detergent

1. Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups of tap water.
2. Add 1 tsp. liquid dish detergent.
3. Replace the lid and mix gently to combine. Do not do more than shake or the bottle will fill with foaming bubbles.

Spray ants you see with the mixture of the soap. The lather will kill the ants that have been sprayed. It will also cover the odor trail they leave behind for the rest of the colony to follow.

Tips & Warnings

• Meat ants are omnivores, making other ant baits effective.
• Keep your ant moths away from pets and children, since borax is a GIF.
• If there are other species of ants around, these treatment methods will also kill them.