From my own experience, I can say that fighting ants in a summer cottage is very troublesome. But this must be done, because these insects not only fertilize the soil and eat caterpillars, but also destroy seedlings, and are carriers of many diseases and aphids. In order to save the future harvest and not harm the plantings, I try to use folk, but effective means against the ant fraternity. One of them is millet.
Why millet has a good effect in the fight against ants
How millet groats act on these insects, no one has fully studied. At the same time, based on my own many years of experience in using this food product in the garden, I can say that it really helps to cope with the problem.
Personally, I have three versions of why ants are so afraid of millet groats:
- In warm weather, nanny ants begin to carry their eggs to the surface of the anthill to warm them up in the sun. Back they mistakenly bring millet into their home, confusing it with eggs. In a humid environment, millet swells and blocks the entrances to the nest. The result is that the uterus is dying of hunger along with its offspring.
- The ants eat millet themselves and carry it to their queen. Such food is not peculiar to these insects. Most likely, it is not digested by their bodies. In addition, when an ant gets inside, millet swells. It tears apart his stomach, which leads to the death of the insect.
- When millet falls to the bottom of the anthill, it begins to grow moldy under the influence of moisture. This mold gives off a bad odor that drives ants out of their homes.
In any case, whatever the secret of the success of using millet against ants lies, it is definitely worth resorting to it. This is a simple and affordable way for every gardener to save the future harvest.
What activities do I take to avoid the invasion of the ant fraternity
To achieve the goal in the fight against ants, you need to know where to put the cereals. I scatter it not only next to the ant's nest, but also on their paths.
It will not be superfluous to sprinkle millet on the soil in the garden beds, and the ground in the flower beds. I pay special attention to strawberries, currant bushes, cucumber planting, vineyard and fruit trees in the garden.
How I prepare ant bait
As a rule, I use raw millet. In order for the yellow grains to interest the ants, I do this with them: I combine millet (500 g) with powdered sugar (100 g), mix thoroughly.
The resulting sweet mixture can be sprinkled abundantly on the anthill itself.
There is another way to make bait. To do this, I soak the millet for 15 minutes. I do it in warm water. I add sugar or honey to the water beforehand. Suitable as a sweetener and jam, and any syrup, and even caramels.
I leave the finished bait near the ant's nest.
If you don't have millet groats at hand, you can safely replace it with semolina. The effect will be the same.
What are the disadvantages of using millet in the fight against ants
Among the disadvantages of this method of confronting the ant fraternity, I can only single out the fragility of the result obtained. In a couple of weeks, goose bumps can return to your garden.
To avoid the return of pests, I reapply millet groats. In addition to millet, I also use other means to repel ants from the garden. For example, I plant mint, lemon balm next to the anthill. Insects do not like the scent of these medicinal herbs.
Millet groats are absolutely harmless to humans, animals and plants. She has established herself as an excellent tool in the fight against ants. I recommend it to all garden enthusiasts.
Read also: How to say goodbye to ants in the garden
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