Ants are one of the most common household pests that can cause a lot of trouble.
They enter the house in search of food and moisture, creating inconvenience for the residents.
However, there is an unexpected and effective way to combat them – ordinary flour.
How flour works against ants
Flour proves to be an effective means of combating ants due to its physical properties.
Small particles of flour, falling on the insect's body, clog its respiratory tract.
In addition, flour absorbs moisture from the surface of the ant's body, which leads to its dehydration. These factors together make flour a death trap for the little pests.
Ways to use flour
The simplest method of using flour is to sprinkle it in a thin layer along the path of the ants.
Particular attention should be paid to the places where they enter the house: cracks in the floor, walls, around pipes. It is also effective to sprinkle flour around the anthill, if it is found on the site. Ants, passing through the flour barrier, will inevitably come into contact with it.
Flour traps
To enhance the effect, you can create special flour traps. Mix flour and sugar in equal proportions and place the mixture in small containers along the ants' paths.
The sugar will attract the insects, and the flour will do its job. Such traps are especially effective in places where ants gather.
Flour barrier
Creating a flour barrier around your garden or vegetable garden plants will help protect them from ant infestations.
Sprinkle a 2-3 cm wide strip of flour around tree trunks or garden beds. Ants will avoid crossing this barrier, thus keeping the plants safe.
Combined methods
To enhance the effect, flour can be combined with other natural remedies.
For example, a mixture of flour with boric acid or baking soda will increase the destructive effect on ants. However, caution should be exercised when using such combinations, especially if there are children or pets in the house.
Preventive measures
The use of flour is effective not only for combating an existing problem, but also for prevention.
Regularly applying a thin layer of flour to potential ant entry points will help prevent ants from appearing in your home. This is especially important in the spring and summer when insect activity increases.
Benefits of Using Flour
Flour as a means of fighting ants has a number of advantages. It is affordable, environmentally friendly and does not pose a threat to people and pets.
Unlike chemical insecticides, flour leaves no harmful residue and is easy to clean. In addition, this method allows you to avoid using toxic substances in the home.
Limitations of the method
Although effective, the flour method of ant control has its limitations. It may be less effective in severe infestations or in humid conditions.
Flour can also attract other pests, such as flour beetles or moths, so it is important to regularly renew flour barriers and keep treated surfaces clean.
Long term strategy
To achieve lasting results, ant control using flour should be combined with other methods.
It is important to eliminate sources of ant attraction: store food in sealed containers, regularly remove crumbs and food remains, seal cracks and crevices in walls and floors.
An integrated approach will help not only get rid of ants, but also prevent their reappearance.
