Get Rid of Ants: DIY Pest Control

I’ve met the enemy. It’s called ghost ant. It’s driving me crazy.

I’ve been a homeowner for almost 30 years. In that time, I’ve encountered and conquered carpenter ants, bees, wasps, hornets, aphids, spiders, and various other bugs and insects. I never met anything as persistent and annoying as these tiny ghost ants.

I’ve tried destroying and eradicating this ant using earth-friendly means, chemical means, and professional means. After countless hours tracking and attacking, I think I have finally found a successful pest control solution.

Ants Attack
I first noticed these tiny creatures scurrying around on the kitchen counter. They’re about 1/32 of an inch big and look like crumbs, only they move. I figured they hitched a ride on something from the grocery store. I smashed them with my fingers.

The ants kept coming back. I cleaned the pantry, the cabinets, the counter, the stove, the refrigerator, the floor. The kitchen was so sterile you could operate in it.

The ant population increased.

Natural Solution
I did some research and learned that lemon juice and coffee grounds are good at altering the chemical pathways the ants use to travel. I got out a lemon and saved some coffee grounds, but I wasn’t sure what to do with them. Do I squirt the walls with lemon juice? Do I scatter coffee around the kitchen? I ended up looking for another solution.

Chemical Solution
My husband arrived home one day armed with a Home Pest Defense System he purchased from Home Depot. He put on protective gear, grabbed the ant killer container in one hand and the nozzle in the other, and went off to exterminate the ants. The inside perimeter, the outside perimeter, and every perimeter in between got sprayed.

Within three days, the little pests were back.

Professional Solution
Our annual termite/bug inspection was due, so we decide to get the advice of a professional. The bug guy listens to our story and confirms they’re probably ghost ants. The only help he offers us is wishing us luck “getting rid of them little critters.”

We’re on our own.

The Ants Keep Attacking
By now, we’ve spent countless hours cleaning, spraying and smashing ants. We’ve wasted valuable time tracing down ant trails trying to figure out the point of entry. Like ghosts, they come and they go.

The natural remedies didn’t work, the pest control products didn’t work, and the professional was of no help. I’m not sure what to try next.

We Attack Back
I ‘m out shopping, browsing around the household aisle in Walgreens. I find this little bottle of ant killer called Terro. It costs only $3, so I decide it’s worth a try.

Goodbye Ants
I put a few drops of the odorless ant killer directly on the kitchen counter and wall. Within 30 minutes, every ant and his mother are feeding on the stuff. I strategically place a few more drops.

I leave the ants alone to fill up on the ant poison. The Terro doesn’t stain the counter or wall and wipes up easily. After 24 hours, I notice a significant drop in the ant population.

Success
I continue to squirt out a drop of fresh Terro anytime I see the ghost ants congregating. Within 72 hours, the ghost ants are gone. My DIY pest control solution worked.