Attack of the Ants – Pest Advice From the Experts

I thoroughly believe that the sole purpose for ants on this earth is to torment me. This year they have done just that……since April. It’s not just us either….all of our neighbors and friends have problems with these six legged creatures.

Many years ago, I did a bad thing……I hired a pest control company at the urging of a friend of mine to help control the ants. It did help a lot, but I also noticed that we didn’t have any other bugs around either. No longer did I see praying mantises, lady bugs and butterflies. The birds left too.

There was nothing for them to eat. It was very sad. I decided to engage in the ant battle without the aid of toxic chemicals once again. About six months after the pest control company stopped spraying their nasty chemicals, I started to see the good and bad bugs and the birds come back again. I guess that I’d rather battle the ants naturally then have all of those chemicals on my yard and in my body.

We recently purchased diatomaceous earth (DE). This consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. Apparently, when ants or other bugs cross over this stuff, it cuts up their bodies and they eventually die.

We also use ant baits to help control the ant population. If anyone has a good idea other than building a moat around the house, I’m all ears!! I’ll post an update on how the DE works.

*Beth Tibbits is a founder of MonsterWorms.com If you’d like to know more about gardening and agriculture, please check out the Monster Worms blog.

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