Read Natural Solutions to Things That Bug You for Free Online

250,000 ants with the queen being imprisoned for life in a special chamber. In large number, they are capable of killing a baby chick or small bird. Ants that win a battle with another colony may even bring back workers as slaves to work for their colony.
     
    Ants are not all bad and if they are not pestering us in our homes should probably be left alone to assist us in reducing the number of other pests that are on our property such as cockroaches, larvae of the filth fly, scale insects, mealybugs and some beetles.
     
     
    IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
    Ants are very close relatives of wasps and bees and are easily recognizable. Their wingless adult form is known as “workers.” The winged variety is often confused with winged termites, especially when they leave their nest to mate and for a new colony.
     
    There are 3 characteristics that will help to determine the difference between ants and termites:
     
       The hind wings of ants are smaller than its front wings; the termite’s front and hind wings are approximately the same size. Both termites and ants will lose their wings after a short flight.
       The ant has a thin waist and the termite does not, it is about the same thickness.
       The female and worker ants have a bent or elbowed antennae; the termite’s antennae are not relatively straight and not elbowed.
     
    Ants undergo a complete change, called a metamorphosis, which includes passing through stages such as egg, larval, pupae and adult. The larval are relatively immobile and resemble a worm and look nothing like the adult. Ants are also very social insects and they have their own duties, which are divided among the various types of adults.
     
    The queen is responsible for all the reproductive functions of her colony and she is much larger than the other adult ants. They lay eggs and will sometimes take part in the feeding and grooming of the larvae. The female workers are all sterile and are involved in the gathering of food, taking care of the larvae, build tunnels and defend the colony. The females take up the bulk of the colony since males do not take part in colony activities only mate with the queen. The males are fed and cared for by the female workers.
     
     
    One of the best methods of keeping ants out of the house is to regularly spray an all-natural deterrent solution around the outside of the home. If you have any bushes or trees that touch the house, remove the problem.
     
    The following are identifying features of common household ants:
    There are specific characteristics when identifying ants and you will need a magnifying glass to determine the number of nodes at the back of their abdomen. By counting the number of nodes you can determine the identity of the ant.
    One-node ants are the Argentine ant, carpenter ant, common house ant and the velvety tree ant.
        
     
     
     
     
     
    Two-node ants are the pavement ant, pharaoh ant, red imported fire ant, southern fire ant and thief ant.
        
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Ants also hate termites and will kill and eliminate their nest when they can find one.
     

PREVENTION INSTEAD OF POISONS
       Be sure and keep all tree branches and bushes away from the house, which makes it easier for them to reach the windows and cracks.
       If you find cracks, best to patch them.
       Never leave any traces of foodstuffs around, they will find even the smallest trace. Not even on dishes.
       Standing water near the house will also invite ants.
       Foods left in containers or packages that have been opened and left in the cupboard need to be sealed VERY TIGHTLY .
       Rinse off and wipe dry and medicine bottles, syrups and jelly jars.
       Be sure and clean your kitchen floor every day.
     
OLD COFFEE GROUNDS SPREAD AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME WILL NATURALLY REPEL ANTS…………………………………………..

GENERAL ANT