Knowledgebase
How to get rid of this ant nest near my room without killing them #488468
Asked October 04, 2018, 4:58 AM EDT
County Colorado
Expert Response
There are no magic repellents that will keep ants away (despite what you might find in some internet sites).
The typical manner in which ants are managed is to use baits with a slow acting toxicant that ants pick up and then return to the colony and feed among the other members of the colony. this can be used effectively to greatly reduce the size of the colony and often kill it out. this is the approach most discussed in the fact sheet on the subject (Ants in the Home) at: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05518.pdf
But since you indicated that you do not wish to kill the ants, tthen your options are to block/build them out in a way so they do not enter the building.
So the first thing is to caulk/seal every crack/crevice that allows these ants access to the living area indoors. Almost assuredly the nest of these ants is outdoors, in the soil and they are somehow accessing your room by getting behind the walls then exiting into the living area.
The use of diatomaceous earth, dusted as a very light film behind the cracks/crevices or on surfaces where the ants travel can also deter ants. This material however would be killing some of the ants, causing them to lose water by interfering with the protective wax layer on their body. However, some people who do not like to use insecticides are OK with this product, which is made up of silicon dioxide, the primary constituent of sand.
Ants will also be deterred from visiting indoor areas if there is no food or water for them to collect. So that is part of any ant control effort - don't give them any reason to forage in your home.
On final note. I can't tell what kind of ant you have as the photos are too blurry. But it likely is one we call a field ant. These will nest outdoors and normally are active outdoors. But, for a brief period in spring and in fall they sometimes move into homes for a couple of weeks. This is because the ground outdoors has become too cold for them to forage outdoors. (The colony remains largely dormant during most of the cold season, but remains active on ether end of the cold season). So, this problem may well end on its own even if you do nothing.
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