- 1). Identify acrobat ants around your home. Acrobatic ants look similar to pavement ants. An acrobat ant is yellowish brown to black and has a heart-shaped abdomen and no lines on its head. A pavement ant is reddish-brown to black with an oval abdomen and distinct vertical lines on its head.
- 2). Replace or remove any rotted wood. This is a favorite nesting site of acrobat ants. Look for old logs, tree stumps, tree branches and firewood.
- 3). Remove access routes into homes by trimming any trees or shrubs so they are not touching the building.
- 4). Look for any plants that may have aphids and treat them. Acrobat ants like to feed on the honeydew aphids produce.
- 5). Ant-proof your home by sealing any cracks in the foundation and around wires and pipes. Make sure all doors and windows are tight-fitting.
- 6). Remove and destroy any nests if you can find them. Outside acrobatic ants will usually be found nesting in rotted wood or under stones. Inside, they may be found in wall voids, especially around window and door frames. Check areas that have had water damage for rotten wood where acrobatic ants may be nesting. Look for debris around the nest opening that the ants have removed.
- 7). Spray the building with a perimeter spray that has a residual insecticide. Permethrin, bifenthrin and carbaryl are effective ant insecticides that can be used to create a barrier outdoors.
- 8). Treat inside nests with an insecticidal dust such as deltamethrin or permethrin.
- 9). Inject tree holes with an insecticidal dust or aerosol insecticide.
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