Ants may look less threatening than many insects, but in Maine, three species are likely to bite or sting you.
It’s not all bad news; ants are also good for the soil, spread plant seeds and can pollinate some plants.
When they take over your yard or get too comfortable in your house, though, these species could cause you some literal pain. If they do, there are a number of natural methods to get rid of ants in and around your home.
Fire ants
Credit: Courtesy of the University of Maine Entomology Department
Maine’s fire ants are a different, less aggressive species than the ones spreading in Southern states, but their bites still hurt. The invasive European Fire Ant has been in the state since at least the 1950s and is well-established today, particularly in coastal counties.
They live in habitats ranging from lawns to forests.
Fire ant populations generally increase during dry summers. Rain can flood the homes of ants that live underground.
Fire ants specifically might be wiped out by the bacteria carried by nematodes, or microscopic worms. University of Maine researchers found three years ago that it’s a possibility, but more research still needs to be done, they said.
Carpenter ants
Maine’s biggest ant, carpenter ants tunnel through moist wood and can cause serious damage to homes. Maine has two species of them, black and the rarer red.
You might hear them tunneling through your walls at night, or find them in the forest on decaying wood.
They don’t sting and typically only bite in self-defense. When they do, though, they can break the skin and spray formic acid into the bite site, causing a burning feeling.
Pavement ants
These ants are similar to black house ants in size and appearance. They live in the soil beneath buildings, logs and paved surfaces.
Pavement ants can both bite and sting, but they’re not likely to unless their nest is disturbed or they otherwise feel threatened.
You’re more likely to find them causing problems for your garden plants or greenhouse. They can eat crops when food is scarce.
If you notice ants in your house, the first thing to do is identify the species. If you’re not sure, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension can identify ants if you mail them a specimen or upload a clear photo online.
Basic principles for keeping all kinds of ants out of your house include not leaving food out, storing your food in closed containers, taking out your trash and returnables regularly and clearing vegetation and tree branches next to your house.
That last step reduces habitat for ants, and tree branches could act like a bridge for them to reach the building.
If you have ants in the house, see if you can find where they’re entering and seal off those areas. Sticky or bait traps are one approach to get rid of ants from your kitchen and other inside areas.
Other home remedies include mixing a small amount of borax with water, then adding sugar and using it to get rid of ants in your yard. Or, sprinkling a line of cinnamon or diatomaceous earth around the perimeter of the house. Neem oil is another deterrent to try if you don’t want to use pesticides.
To get rid of an ant hill on your patio, you can try pouring carbonated, soapy or boiling water down it, flattening it out repeatedly until the ants get the message, or you can consider insecticides. Mainers have also tried sprinkling cornmeal and corn starch around the hills, which the ants eat but can’t digest.
With lots of ants, or if you find carpenter ants in your home, you’ll probably want to call an exterminator.
