WE ALL love the summer months (even if we’ve not see much of the sun) but there’s one quick way to ruin it, flying ants.
It’s that time of year again where the pesky critters are swarming the UK so they can reproduce and take over your home and garden.
If you’ve started spotting them already, then you’ll want to get ahead of the problem before thousands show up and thankfully, there are plenty of DIY methods to do so.
Studies show that there is no particular day for flying ants to emerge but it usually happens around mid July where flying ants leave their homes to find mating partners, so it’s time to get prepped.
While flying ants cause no harm to us, they aren’t quite the guests we want in our home.
If you have left a window open and realise hundreds have already got inside, you can simply use a vacuum to suck them up and get rid of them.
But you can also create your own DIY repellent and killer spray to keep them away according to Forbes.
Like most small bugs there are certain scents flying ants hate and peppermint is one of them as to them it smells like a predator.
You can make a simple solution using a few drops of peppermint oil, washing up liquid and water and mixing together in a spray bottle.
Once done, you can spray the ants directly to kill them or spray along windows and doors to keep them away.
Don’t worry if you don’t have peppermint oil to hand – there are lots more scents they hate.
You can try using tea tree, cinnamon, clove, cedarwood and patchouli oils as a replacement.
As an additional measure, you can also use a mixture of white vinegar and water to keep them away as the strong smell will deter them from trying to come in.
If you really don’t have any essential oils or vinegar lying home you can rely on the basics.
All flies hate sticky traps, including flying ants.
But don’t threat if you don’t have any at home as you can make your own.
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
You can make your own glue trap by laying out strips of duct tape around your home with the sticky side facing upward.
In order to most effectively attract the ants, try sprinkling a bit of sugar or drizzling a little honey on top of the sticky part.
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