They are tiny, but busy at the "slog". If the time factor is added, ants can cause considerable damage in masonry and walls. So make sure you get rid of them real quick.
In a nutshell
- Signs of heavier infestation: heaps of dust near the baseboard
- Wall substance, insulating layer and load-bearing wooden components can be destroyed
- close all wall openings, replace damaged window and door seals
- Interrupt ant trails, relocate anthills
- call an exterminator in case of severe infestation
Table of contents
- Ants come in from outside
- Possible damage from ants
- detect ant infestation
- Combat ants in masonry
- In the event of a severe infestation, call an exterminator
- Prevent re-infestation
- Plants against ants
- frequently asked Questions
Ants come in from outside
Ants are not brought into the house unintentionally, but find their own way into the masonry and walls. Usually houses or apartments are affected, directly adjacent to a garden in which there is an ants' nest. If there are crevices and cracks in the masonry or any other kind of openings, the ants will sooner or later discover them and colonize the wall.
Possible damage from ants
If ants are able to conquer the wall undisturbed, you have to reckon with the following damage:
- Ant colonies colonize entire wall
- crush insulating materials
- decompose wall material
- completely destroy wooden components
- possibly. carrying capacity is no longer given
- food can also be affected
- Transmission of diseases possible
detect ant infestation
If you spot a few ants in the house, the masonry does not necessarily have to be infested. They could have entered the house through an open window or door. Most ants are harmless, only attracted to food lying around. But some ant species, such as the two-colored garden ant (Lasius emarginatus), also remove wood, for example that from wooden building elements.
Take a closer look at the masonry. Pay particular attention to piles of dust near the baseboards. They are a clear indication that a wall is inhabited by ants. The more and larger the heaps are, the stronger the infestation.
Tip: If the nest in the masonry is made by pharaoh ants, you should act immediately! The very small, warmth-loving ants move all over the house in search of food. You can leave behind germs that can cause serious illnesses.
Combat ants in masonry
Once the settlement of the wall has just started, you should act immediately.
- If you find ants, take them outside immediately, away from the house.
- Close all openings in the masonry. Depending on the type of opening, you can use concrete, construction foam or silicone.
- Replace any brittle seals on doors and windows.
- If the wall is damp, which attracts ants, take timely drainage measures.
- Disrupt existing ant trails.
- Relocate anthills found in the garden further away.
In the event of a severe infestation, call an exterminator
Since ants build their nests very extensively, it is better to call the exterminator in the event of a severe infestation. It may well be necessary to tear down parts of a wall to get to all nests.
By fighting yourself, you save the costs for an exterminator, but failed attempts at combating or undiscovered nests could prolong the infestation and ultimately lead to much more expensive wall damage.
A notice: Since commercially available ant poisons are often harmful to aquatic organisms or other insects, you should refrain from using them for the sake of the environment.
Prevent re-infestation
After the first infestation, did you close all openings in the masonry and replace damaged seals to keep ants out? Then you should avoid the following from now on:
- Musty indoor climate (ventilate regularly)
- leftovers and unwashed crockery
- unemptied pet food bowls
- open or poorly sealed food packages
- open garbage cans
Tip: Walk the garden at regular intervals. If you discover new anthills, you should not hesitate and use them relocate. For example, place a flower pot filled with wood shavings upside down on the hill and wait for the ants to get inside.
Plants against ants
It has been observed that the smell-sensitive ants do not like some plant scents and therefore do not come too close to the plants. These include, among other things lavender, basil, marjoram and mint. As a preventative measure, it could also be helpful to plant some of these specimens around the house.
frequently asked Questions
Ants have a good sense of smell. Use the old home remedy cinnamon or get sulfur from the pharmacy.
If it is not just a few ants that accidentally got lost in the wall, but the masonry of the rented property is really infested, you must inform the landlord. It's his job to initiate the fight in a timely manner. If he does not do this, you may be entitled to a rent reduction.
The bicolored garden ant, which is the most common indoor species, cannot sting. But there are many other species of ants that can sting both humans and pets.
The new anthill should be from yours property line at least are 30 m away. Otherwise there is a high risk that ants will make their way back to the old place.