Ants are coming into our homes. To prevent them from taking over your kitchen, implement this simple method as soon as possible.
Have the ants decided to invade your house, your kitchen and your garden? It’s normal, they wake up in the spring and go in search of food. Leftover meals in a dish left in the sink, crumbs falling on the floor… So many things can attract them to your home. And when it comes to eliminating them, the task can quickly get tiring since they come back very often.
To keep them away for good, it is crucial to understand their behavior. Ants live in organized colonies, with a clear division of labor. They follow scent trails left by other ants to find food and communicate with each other using pheromones. When an ant finds a food source, it returns to the colony and leaves behind a scented path leading to the food. Other ants then follow this path to find the same food source. This is how the ants form single files heading to and from the food source.
One deterrent method is to draw a chalk line to keep ants out. But does it really work? The idea behind using chalk to deter ants is based on the assumption that ants cannot cross a chalk line, created by this natural barrier. It may seem strange, but if you observe them, you will notice that this thin line bothers them considerably.
Take a thick chalk preferably and draw lines in front of your front door and on your window sills. In short, wherever they go to get into your home. And there you have it, in just a few seconds, you have created an obstacle that the ants won’t dare cross!
Despite the popularity of this technique shared by many users, there is little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Studies on the subject are rare. A study by researchers at North Carolina State University examined the effect of chalk lines on ant behavior. The results showed that ants did indeed avoid crossing the chalk lines, but not all ant species. Additionally, this effect was temporary, as the ants eventually found ways around the barrier by exploring new pathways.
These results suggest that although chalk may initially deter ants, its effectiveness may be temporary. So remember to make lines everywhere, and to trace them regularly, and above all, avoid leaving food lying around. You can also use other natural repellents such as white vinegar, baking soda or peppermint essential oil, all products hated by ants.