Crazy ants are a relatively new, highly invasive species of ants strangely attracted to the electrical equipment of all kinds, and their elimination in the fastest way possible is important.
Due to their erratic behavior and the jerky movements, as well as their attraction to electrical components, the crazy ants can be difficult to kill. But eradicating these ants isn’t impossible, as long as you have the right ingredients. The easiest way of getting rid of crazy ants would be through the use of natural repellents that desiccate, repel, or kill the ants on contact, which is why diatomaceous earth and essential oils are on top of that list.
If you have an infestation of crazy ants, the good news is that there are several natural remedies that will eliminate the ants safely and without introducing toxins or chemicals to the environment.
These reddish-yellowish-brown ants are rapid breeders that can be hard to control, and they easily combine colonies to form supercolonies, hence the need for immediate eradication. They are knowns for their frantic, jerky movements, but what stands out from the crazy ants is the fact that they are attracted to electricity and also they emit a unique scent, a pheromone, when electrocuted. Interestingly, the electrocution and the subsequent release of pheromones will notify other ants to rush to the scene where they will find the ant that has been eliminated by the attacker. The new ants trying to rescue the other ant also get electrocuted in the process, attracting more ants, consequently creating a big pile-up of dead ants. Since you wouldn’t want to deal with such a menace from the ants, the remedies below will come in handy.
How to get rid of crazy ants naturally.
Diatomaceous Earth (Silicon dioxide)
Diatomaceous earth is a type of silica made of fossilized remains of diatoms (aquatic organisms or planktons). As a naturally-occurring substance, diatomaceous earth kills ants, as well as other bugs, easily through desiccation. It absorbs oils from the insect’s skeletons, drying them out. It is, however, an irritant meaning that you shouldn’t breathe it in or get it on your skin. So, if you are looking for a natural, safe, effective, and fast, crazy ant killer, you might want to look for products that contain diatomaceous earth.
Pepper
Ants find the scent of pepper naturally irritating, which makes pepper an excellent deterrent for them. You could try cayenne/ red or black pepper. And since pepper is completely safe and natural, it would be a great idea to sprinkle pepper behind appliances and around baseboards to keep the ants at bay.
Peppermint
Peppermint is the other highly effective, natural insecticide repellent that will not only keep away ants but also mosquitoes and other bugs.
You only need to mix about 10 – 20 drops of peppermint essential oils with about 2 cups of water, then shake the mixture and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the peppermint oil mix around baseboards and also around windows, then let it dry.
Keep in mind that, like other essential oils, peppermint oil could reach out and affect cats and other pets who will be hurt and unwell when exposed. So, it would be a good idea to use peppermint oil in areas unreachable by your beloved pets.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is the other powerful insect repellent that would also kill ants and all other types of bugs. Essentially, tea tree oil works well when mixed with about 2 cups of water and used as a spray. Mix between 5 and 10 drops of the tea tree oil with 2 cups of water, then saturate the cotton balls in this mixture, then place them around your home, especially where you could have spotted ants.
In case the tea tree oil-water mixture has an overwhelming smell, you may want to add in some peppermint oil diluted with water. Like most essential oils, tea tree oil is one of the most effective natural bug killers.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
Extracted from the gum eucalyptus tree, the oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) contains a naturally occurring PMD chemical that’s a natural insect repellent. According to EPA, PMD is safe, and it will keep ants away easily. It also repels mosquitoes.
Lemon Eucalyptus oil
This essential oil is extracted from the lemon eucalyptus tree, and it works as an excellent bug repellent. Its effectiveness comes from the presence of citronella that’s also effective in repellent ants. Just be careful not to ingest lemon eucalyptus oil.
For the best performance, use undiluted oil, saturated in cotton balls in areas with the crazy ants, changing the cotton balls weekly.
White Vinegar
Whether you’ve spotted 1 or 10 crazy ants, you’d want to use a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water or even straight vinegar. White vinegar straight up kills ants on contact, with its smell repelling some of the ants. So, if you have a crazy ants problem, you may want to clean the hard surfaces like floors and countertops using diluted white vinegar – ants and bugs hate the smell of vinegar.
And because ants can still smell vinegar even after it dries, it could be the best solution for you.
Cinnamon leaf essential oil
Cinnamon leaf essential oil kills and repels ants because of its active ingredient, trans-cinnamaldehyde, which has also been shown to be effective in killing/ repelling red ants.
To use this essential oil, saturate cotton balls with the undiluted oil, then leave the balls scattered in places with ants. You could also sprinkle the cinnamon powder around baseboards and on the windowsills.
Neem Oil
Extracted from the neem tree, full-strength, undiluted neem oil repels ants, regardless of the species, and it might be a great option for you.
Other natural remedies to help get rid of crazy ants
- Coffee grounds
- Cornstarch
- Boiling water
Conclusion
Crazy ants can be quite stressful, but the natural remedies above will ensure that you get rid of the ants fast and effectively. The essential oils, white vinegar, and diatomaceous earth are among the best natural remedies for getting rid of the crazy ants.
FAQs
What are crazy ants?
Crazy ants are a highly invasive species of ants that also go by the names tawny, hairy, or raspberry ants. They get their name from their rather frantic and jerky movements. Also, these ants have a strange attraction to electricity and electrical equipment.
Can you use household products to get rid of crazy ants?
Besides essential oils, vinegar, and pepper, you could also get rid of crazy ants using hand soap, liquid detergent or glass killers, boric acid, or borax. And once you’ve discovered how they get in, you may want to seal off the nooks and crannies while also cutting off their food source.
