Sugar ants are among the most frequent household pests and are mainly found in kitchens. These tiny insects are frequently observed running across counters to look for spills, crumbs, and anything slightly sweet.
Although they seem harmless, they can become a problem when they invade areas used for food storage, contaminate the food, and are challenging to eliminate.
Sugar ants can rapidly multiply their colonies, making them challenging to manage. They can leave chemical trails that attract other ants, rapidly turning a minor issue into a severe infestation. Keeping food safe and clean when it spreads throughout the kitchen is more challenging.
Growcycle offers an excellent guide on how to get rid of sugar ants. It allows homeowners to control these tiny creatures.
Behavior and Habits of Sugar Ants
Effective management and prevention of infestation depend on understanding sugar ants’ behavior and habits.
Highly Social and Organized
Sugar ants are social insects living in large colonies, including thousands of individuals. A single colony usually consists of:
- A queen (or multiple queens) lays eggs, ensuring the colony’s survival.
- Worker ants look for food, care for the young, and build tunnels.
- Drones’ (males) only purpose is to mate with the queen.
Worker ants are the most commonly seen. They are highly organized and communicate through chemical signals called pheromones. These pheromones create trails that help other ants find food sources, which explains why sugar ants often march in neat, orderly lines.
Nocturnal Foragers
Sugar ants are most active at night, though they can be seen during the day if a primary food source is available. During their peak foraging hours—usually after sunset—they leave the nest searching for food and water. This nocturnal behavior can make it difficult to catch an infestation early.
Love Sweets
Sugar ants love sweet things, as their name indicates. Their main foods are sugar, honey, syrup, fruits, baked goods, and soft drinks. They also consume proteins and greasy foods when sweets are unavailable. They can survive various environments.
Nesting Habits
Sugar ants usually build their nests outdoors but move indoors when food or water is scarce. Common nesting sites include:
- Under rocks or logs
- In soil or mulch near homes
- In wall voids
- Beneath baseboards
- Under kitchen appliances
Once inside, they prefer dark, hidden places near food and moisture. Their favourite places are bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Seasonal Activity
Sugar ants are most active during spring and summer, when temperatures are warmer and food sources are more plentiful. This is also when colonies expand and new queens establish their nests. The activity slows during colder months, but indoor infestations can persist year-round if the environment remains favorable.
Rapid Reproduction
A single queen can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, and some sugar ant species have multiple queens per colony. This means colonies can proliferate; if one part of a colony is destroyed, others may survive and continue reproducing elsewhere.
Adaptability and Intelligence
Sugar ants are very adaptive. They can change foraging routes, switch nests, and split colonies if they detect a threat. This behavior, known as budding, allows part of the colony to move to a new location. At the same time, the rest stays behind, making infestations harder to eliminate without targeting all potential nests.
Strong Memory
Sugar ants remember where food has previously been found and will return to those places repeatedly, even days or weeks later. This is why a single food spill can attract ants long after it is cleaned—unless the area is thoroughly disinfected and the pheromone trail is removed.
Effective Home Remedies for Sugar Ants
These home remedies can help eliminate sugar ants quickly and safely.
1. Vinegar Solution Spray
Vinegar disrupts and repels ant pheromone trails. In a spray bottle, combine equal parts water and white vinegar. For added strength, add a few drops of dish soap. Directly water ant trails, entryways, and worktops. To get rid of the trail, wipe with a fresh cloth.
2. Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar
Ants are killed by this mixture, which also functions as a natural bait. Combine powdered sugar and baking soda in balanced amounts. Put the mixture in bottle caps or shallow lids close to ant trails. Ants are drawn to the sugar, and when the baking soda reacts in their digestive tract, it kills them.
3. Lemon Juice
The acidic nature of lemons disrupts scent trails and masks the food smells that attract ants. Squeeze fresh lemon juice around entry points and windowsills. Leave the peels near ant-prone areas. Reapply daily until the ants are gone.
4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a natural repellent due to its strong smell and essential oils. Sprinkle ground cinnamon along ant trails and entry points. Alternatively, dip cotton balls in cinnamon essential oil and place them strategically. Replace the cotton every couple of days.
5. Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade)
This powder is made from algae fossils and does not harm humans but is deadly to ants. Sprinkle a thin layer along baseboards, under appliances, and around suspected entry points. Avoid wet areas because it only works when dry. Wear a mask while applying, as the fine dust can irritate the lungs.
6. Peppermint Oil Spray
Ants hate peppermint’s strong scent. Mix 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with 1 cup of water. Spray along baseboards, corners, and near food storage areas. Repeat every 2–3 days or as needed.
FAQs
Are sugar ants dangerous?
Sugar ants are not dangerous to humans because they do not sting or bite. However, they can contaminate food by crawling across dirty surfaces and spreading bacteria.
Do sugar ants go away on their own?
If a food source remains available, the ants will keep coming back. Even if the ants are removed visibly, the colony will continue sending foragers. To stop them, remove the food, clean the trails, and address the nest.
Are ant traps or bait safe for pets and children?
Store-bought ant baits can be effective, but they should be kept out of the reach of pets and children.
The Bottom Line
Sugar ants are tiny but can be a serious household annoyance that must be removed. Knowledge of their habits, diet, and nesting preferences can eliminate them. Natural remedies like vinegar, essential oils, and borax baits have been used to help treat milder infestations. Visit Growcycle for effective pest control solutions and a quick and efficient way to get rid of sugar ants.
