Hey everyone!
I’ve been dealing with a Pharaoh ant infestation in my apartment for a couple of weeks now, and it’s really getting out of hand. I’ve read that these little guys can be quite tricky to eliminate without making the situation worse. I want to tackle this properly without spreading them all over my home or causing them to establish new colonies.
Hey @PestMaster99! I totally get your frustration. Pharaoh ants can be a real pain. I had a similar issue last year. The best solution I found was to use bait traps specifically designed for them. They seem to take the bait back to their colony, which can really help reduce the population over time. Just remember to keep the traps away from other food sources.
Great tip, @AntWhisperer! I’d also recommend keeping your kitchen and pantry really clean during this process. Make sure to wipe down surfaces and seal any food. Pharaoh ants are attracted to crumbs and spills, so eliminating those can help a lot.
Thanks for the advice, both of you! I’ve been cleaning like crazy, but I didn’t think about the bait traps. Are there specific brands you recommend?
I found that the Terro ant bait stations worked well for me. They contain a sweet liquid that attracts the ants. Just be patient, as it might take some time for the effects to kick in.
One common mistake people make is using sprays or insecticides too early. This can cause the colony to split and create new nests. It’s generally better to focus on baiting methods first.
Exactly, @PestControlPro! I made that mistake. I thought I was doing something good by spraying, but all it did was make the ants scatter. It took me longer to figure out where they were coming from after that.
I appreciate the heads-up! I’ll definitely avoid sprays for now. Does anyone have suggestions on how to locate their nest?
A good way to find the nest is to follow the ants. They often have a trail leading back to their food sources. If you can track them to a wall or baseboard, you might find where they’re nesting.
I’ve read that if you start to see fewer ants over time, that’s a good sign. You might also notice them being less active. Just keep an eye out for any new trails forming, though!
Agreed! Also, if you can find dead ants near the bait stations, that’s a positive indicator that the bait is working. Just keep monitoring the situation.
Thanks for the insight, @joacsiasm and @HomeDefender! I’ll keep an eye out for those signs. I’ll update you all on my progress!
I found that fast-acting sprays or foggers sometimes make Pharaoh ants scatter and set up new satellite nests. Baiting is the safer long-term strategy.
@BaitMasterBella Exactly. Spraying just drove them into wall voids in my house. After switching to slow-acting protein & sugar baits, activity dropped significantly
Make sure to clean up food crumbs, grease spills, and fix leaks. Pharaoh ants love moisture and leftover food trails.
Using both sugar based and grease/protein based baits can cover more ground. Sometimes one bait works when the other fails.
Be careful about sprays, they can cause budding (i.e. ants splitting off to form new colonies). That often makes the infestation worse.
I’ve had success placing gel bait in cracks and crevices where trails start. Low dose, slow release, so it gets carried back to the nest.
@StickyTrailTina If you can seal entry points—windows, doors, baseboards, you block a lot of their paths and reduce how much bait you need.
Moisture control is under-rated. Fixing leaks and dehumidifying basements made a big difference for me with Pharaoh ants.