Interesting Ant facts:

• If a man could run as fast for his size as an ant can, he would run as fast as a racehorse
• Ants can lift 20 times their own body weight
• The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days
• There are over 10,000 known species of ants
• Each colony of ants has its own smell. In this way, intruders can be recognized immediately
• Birds put ants in their feathers because the ants squirt formic acid which gets rid of parasites
• If a worker ant has found a good source for food, it leaves a trail of scent so that the other ants in the colony can also find the food

What you can do to control ant entry into your home or business:

• Seal windows, doors and any cracks the ants might crawl through
• Don’t leave food lying around
• Line suspected access points with deterrent substances such as salt and talc which can be spread under doors, near windows and walls. Bear in mind that there are concerns about the potential carcinogenicity of talc if you breathe it in–wear a barrier mask
• Apply scents and substances that ants don’t like such as vinegar, peppermint oil, cinnamon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, whole cloves, and bay leaves . Be aware however that some of these might be harmful to pets and irritants to curious children

Treatment:

• An integrated pest management approach