How to deal with ants, millipedes and other insects
Especially in the spring and fall, various types of insects may seem determined to take over your home or garden. Find out how to prevent and resolve insect issues.
Ant infestations
The most important thing is to find their nest; it can be inside or outside of the house. If you notice several ants inside the house, you can purchase traps designed to attract them at any hardware store. They will take some of the “food” from the trap and bring it back to the nest—the entire colony will then be destroyed.
When the nest is outside of your home, you can try a couple of solutions. For example, you can pour boiling soapy water on the nest to flood it until no ants come out of it anymore. You can also sprinkle the nest with a mixture of bone meal, red pepper, crushed egg shells and diatomaceous earth—a low-impact pesticide. There are also new pesticides made of natural ingredients. It is important to know that pesticides that contain borax are toxic; keep them away from children and pets.
What should you do when you find millipedes in your home?
As soon as you see millipedes outside or inside your home, it’s best to quickly get rid of them. First, place a natural insecticide or diatomaceous earth where they enter or exit your home until they disappear. Place a mixture of diatomaceous earth and a little bit of water into cracks (exterior siding and interior finishes, windows, doors). To prevent millipedes from entering, place bags of silica in damp areas of your home.
How to prevent insect infestations
Aside from ants and millipedes, a humid environment can also attract silverfish, tiny beetles, pillbugs, spiders, midges, flies, wasps and moths. Begin by resolving any poor ventilation or humidity issues in your home. If it’s too humid, install a dehumidifier. Closing up cracks around doors, windows and interior finishes will limit insect access and improve thermal insulation. Regularly ventilate the basement, garage, shed and bathrooms. If you notice rotten wood in the framing, replace it before it becomes infested. Remove rugs in humid areas and repair leaky faucets.
If, despite implementing these measures, you are unable to completely control an insect infestation, you will need to hire a licensed exterminator.
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See also:
Ants in the house: everything you need to know