How To Get Rid of Sugar Ants with 7 Different (and Easy) Methods

While they’re generally harmless to humans and pets, sugar ants are nasty little pests to deal with. They’re hard to get rid of and they work together in large numbers to get food back to the nest. And, seeing long trails of these tiny ants can make your skin crawl. But this guide on how to get rid of sugar ants will help you with this sticky (pun intended) situation.

Note: As of the publishing of this article, there are NO affiliate links. RiddaBugs does not have any affiliate partnerships at this time, so any links are purely for your information. As we add affiliates, we will update these posts.

What are Sugar Ants?

In true RiddaBugs style, we think it’s important to understand what these pests are before we discuss how to handle a sugar ant infestation. In the US, we consider any small ants that are attracted to sugary substances as a sugar ant. However, there are several types of these crazy ants that could be infiltrating or infesting a home, or even a car.

Note: Don’t get white ants confused with the following species. White ants are actually termites, and they require a different approach to get rid of.

Banded Sugar Ants

The true sugar ant is the banded sugar ant, and these bugs are native to Australia. These ants are between ¼ to ¾ inches long, feature six legs, and can be black, orange, brown, or a combination of these colors. 

Banded sugar ants do bite, and their bites can cause corrosion of the skin around the wound. However, these ants are only found in Australia so, more than likely, they aren’t the species walking across your North American countertops.

Odorous House Ants (OHAs)

Odorous house ants are as common a pest in North America as the drain or fruit fly—which are both extremely common. These ants are very small, ranging between 1/16 and ⅛-inch in length. They have six legs, segmented bodies, and can be black or brown. 

Odorous house ants get their name because they smell when crushed. The odor they emit smells similar to rotten coconuts, which is only slightly more pleasant than the smell of stink bugs.

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants are one of the most common species. These ants are ⅛-inch in length and dark brown to black in color. They have segmented, oval-shaped bodies and can be found throughout the U.S. 

Pavement ants are likely to be found in ground-level masonry walls, which means foundations and concrete slabs are perfect for them. They follow ant trails up to 30 feet long.

Pharaoh Ants

Another ant species typically considered a sugar ant is the pharaoh ant. Pharaoh ants are very small (under 1/16 of an inch), feature 12 segments on their bodies, and range in color from yellow to light brown or red. It’s a major pest in the U.S. They can invade very small spaces, with hundreds of these little bugs known to hang out inside light switches and other minuscule cavities within walls. 

The origin of the pharaoh ant is that these ants were believed to be one of the plagues of Egypt. While the species is native to Africa, they did not cause a plague. 

How To Identify Sugar Ants

Species	Size	Color and Shape	Identifying Characteristic	Region
Banded Sugar Ants	¼ to ¾-inch long	Black, orange, brown Segmented bodies	Found in Australia	Australian only
Odorous House Ants	1/16 to ⅛-inch long	Black or brown	Smells like rotten coconut when smashed	Throughout the US
Pavement Ants	⅛-inch long	Black or brown Segmented, oval-shaped bodies	Found primarily traveling through masonry walls	Throughout the US
Pharaoh Ants	1/16-inch long	Yellow, light brown, or red Bodies made up of 12 segments	Multiple body segments	Native to Africa but found throughout the US

What Attracts Sugar Ants?

Sugar ants have incredibly strong senses of smell. They can smell food sources within the home from outside, giving them all the desire to get inside and find food. As they travel, they release pheromones that make it easier for other ants to follow them. This is why a sugar ant infestation can include bugs traveling trails back and forth to food sources. 

Are They Dangerous?

Whether or not these ants are dangerous depends on the species and situation. Banded sugar ants can bite and cause skin deterioration around the wound, but this is rarely a serious situation. Other sugar ants listed above may bite, but their bites are generally harmless.

Sugar ants can contaminate food and surfaces, however. If a trail of ants travels over germs and bacteria, and those ants then walk on food-prep surfaces or actual food, the food can become unsafe to eat.

What do sugar ants eat?

While some insects may feed on fabrics or carpets, sugar ants have other tasty treats on their minds. As the name suggests, they like sweet food. This can include fruits and vegetables as well as flower nectar. It can also include sugary sodas, juices, candy, syrups, and other generally sweet and sticky substances. They’ll sniff out the food source, eat, and head back to the nest. In the process, they leave pheromone trails behind for other ants to follow, which the entire colony may just do, compounding the issue. 

Do sugar ants poop?

Sugar ants do poop, and studies have shown that they do so hygienically. Ant poop contains bacteria and pathogens that can be harmful for them to be around, so they designate spaces in their nests for pooping. Essentially, they have indoor toilets, and as a result, humans aren’t likely to find their poop.

Sugar ants do not drop ant frass, which is essentially poop mixed with indigestible materials. This type of ant poop is a characteristic of species like carpenter ants and can be found as small pepper-like flakes around window sills and food sources for these ants.

Do sugar ants bite?

Yes, they can bite when they feel threatened. However, their mandibles are small and they don’t inject poisons, so humans are unlikely to notice that they’ve even been bitten. This is not always the case for banded sugar ants, which can cause skin deterioration around a bite wound.

How to Get Rid of Sugar Ants

With that helpful background on these insects, it’s time to discuss how to get rid of sugar ants. The following methods are proven to be effective against these pests (and in some cases, other insect species). 

Vinegar and Lemon Juice

Vinegar and lemon juice is one of the most effective homemade insect repellents you can use to repel and kill ants. The vinegar removes the trails while the lemon juice offends their sense of smell. Also, vinegar sprayed directly on the ant will kill it.

Pour three tablespoons of lemon juice into a spray bottle, and then fill the rest of the bottle with white vinegar (you can cut the vinegar 50/50 with water if desired). Spray it on the trails, along window sills and doorways, and around the foundation of the home. If there are any ants inside the home, spray them with the solution and remove the dead carcasses with a paper towel and discard.

This solution is also helpful for cleaning counters and floors. Simply spray onto the surfaces and wipe down with a cloth. However, don’t use vinegar on stone countertops as it can etch them.

Essential Oils

Another one of the best ant control methods is using solutions containing essential oils. Sugar ants hate the smell of citrus fruits like lemon and orange, as well as plants like peppermint. A few drops of these oils into a spray bottle filled with water or a water and vinegar mix can help get rid of ants.

Be sure to spray any trails, the foundation, and anywhere else ants may be able to make their way into the home. Stronger solutions made with more oil can kill ants, as well. 

There’s an added benefit to the method. In most cases, the oils make the house smell great. But also, many other insects hate these smells, like spiders and beetles.

Borax and Water

It’s possible to make your own homemade ant poison, as well. Simply mix ½ cup of sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon of Borax, and 1 ½ cups of water in a bowl. Soak a few cotton swabs in the solution and place them near any trails (we suggest placing them on small bits of cardboard to prevent sticky floors and window sills). 

Ants will divert off the trail for the sugar, consume the boric acid in the Borax, and then take it back to the nest. The Borax will disrupt their digestive systems and kill them, and since they’re taking this substance back to the nest, other ants will consume it and die, as well. 

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth, or DE powder, is one of the easiest ways to get rid of sugar ants. This powder is made up of crystalized aquatic organisms, and as these bugs crawl over top of the powder, the organisms scratch their bodies and cause them to dehydrate. Also, DE powder is generally safe for kids and pets.

To use diatomaceous earth, sprinkle a thin film of powder along any trails and on top of nests.  You can use a DE spreader, a duster dipped in the DE powder, or simply sprinkle the powder on with a spoon. However, it’s important that the powder be thin and barely visible or ants will avoid it altogether. 

Ant Bait

One of the fastest ways to kill sugar ants is to use bait products. Ant baits are scented to attract sugar ants, and the bait contains poison. As the bugs eat the bait and bring it back to the nest, they’re infecting their ant colonies as well.

It’s important to note that these baits do contain insecticides and these insecticides can be harmful to beneficial insects like pollinators. Also, if birds or other animals consume poisoned ants, they may become sick as well. For that reason, we suggest that baits, poisons, and insecticides be a last resort for getting rid of sugar ants, but we don’t shame folks who need a fast fix to their sugar ant problem, either.

Bug Sprays

Commercially-available sprays are extremely effective at reducing sugar ant populations. These sprays contain chemical pesticides that affect the ant’s central nervous systems and kill them on contact but also offers long-term residual coverage. This is similar to how treating a room with bed bug spray can kill any bugs exposed but also protect the space for several months after.

Sticky Traps

How about turning the tables on sugar ants by using sticky traps? These paper ant traps have sticky surfaces on one side, and as ants travel across the surface, they get stuck and eventually dehydrate and die. Placed along ant trails, these sticky traps can be very effective at keeping ants off of countertops and other surfaces.

Sticky ant traps aren’t perfect, however. First, a pile of dead bugs on full display is gross, and throwing them out when they catch a few bugs gets expensive quickly. Second, they don’t do anything for the ant colony problem, or eliminate sugar ants altogether. But they can be an effective way to kill sugar ants quickly.

Bay Leaves

For a safer option than insecticides and an easier method than dusting with DE powder, try bay leaves. Bay leaves contain compounds that produce strong smells that sugar ants hate.

Lay whole bay leaves along ant trails and anywhere ants may be entering the house. Window sills, foundation walls, and even the garden outside can help. Just keep in mind that bay leaves will lose their potency over time, so this method is best used in addition to other options.

Cinnamon

While it may be slightly messy, cinnamon powder does a great job of repelling and killing sugar ants. First, they hate the scent, so they’ll often turn and run as soon as they smell it. Second, should the ant inhale the cinnamon, it will suffocate and die. 

Treat cinnamon similarly to DE powder by sprinkling it on window sills, floors, counters, and anywhere else ant trails have been found. Also, you can use a cotton ball dipped in cinnamon essential oil to wipe down trails and other areas where ants are traveling into the home. 

How To Prevent Sugar Ants from Getting Into Your Home

While it’s important to know how to get rid of these bugs, you may be able to avoid the battle with an ounce of prevention. The following methods are helpful for keeping sugar ants and other pests out of the home. 

Seal Entryways

Sugar ants typically make their way into homes through cracks in masonry walls, gaps around windows and doors, and other similar passageways. Sealing every entry point possible with silicone caulk or repairing masonry surfaces is one of the best ways to keep sugar ants out of the home. 

Clean Surfaces

Sugar ants like your home for food availability, not your design sense or high-def TV. For that reason, keeping surfaces like counters and floors clean from crumbs and spills will help deter them from entering the home in the first place. Here’s how:

• Clean and disinfect counters and food prep surfaces at the end of every day
• Mop floors once a week
• Clean up any spills or messes immediately
• Rinse dirty dishes immediately after use
• Take garbage bags out every day (use high-quality garbage bags or you could end up with other pests in your garbage can!)
• Clean up any stains or spills on carpets and furniture (a steamer can help with this).

Store Food in Sealed Containers

Sugar ants can easily make their way into sugar bags or boxes of cereal. Keep these foods in airtight containers to prevent them from becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet for sugar ants in your kitchen. 

Also, pet food can also become a food source for sugar ants. Keep dog food in sealed containers, and consider picking up food dishes when your pets aren’t eating. 

FAQs

That’s a lot of information on how to get ridding the house of these tiny, annoying pests, but there may still be some questions lingering around. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic. 

What is the fastest way to get rid of sugar ants?

The fastest way is to use a vinegar-based solution like the ones listed above. Vinegar erases the pheromone trails that ants leave and can kill them on contact, helping solve a difficult issue quickly.

How do you permanently get rid of sugar ants?

Permanently getting rid of sugar ants is more about prevention than eradication. Keeping surfaces clean from spills and crumbs, sealing food in containers, and sealing entryways that sugar ants can use to access the home will help.

What causes sugar ants in your house?

Sugar ants enter a home in search of food. Their scent receptors are incredibly strong and they can detect food inside the home from the outside. Once foods attract ants, scout ants search for it, find the food, and follow pheromone trails back and forth, allowing other ants to find the food and bring it back to the nest as well. 

Do sugar ants eventually go away?

Sugar ants rarely go away on their own. If there is food present, they’ll continue to return to the home in search of it. Erasing the trails and cleaning up messes is critical to getting rid of them.

How do you find a sugar ant nest?

The easiest way to find a sugar ant nest is to follow the ant trail from the food source. Simply find the highway that ants are traveling.

Do sugar ants hate vinegar?

Ants do hate vinegar. Not only is it offensive to their scent receptors, but it also erases their pheromone trails and can kill them on contact.