Ants, as all insects, have three body parts, head, thorax, and abdomen; they also have elbowed antennae, while termites have straight, bead-like antennae. Ants can be easily distinguished from termites by several characteristics: Ant bodies appear constricted or pinched in at the waist shaped like a figure 8, while termites do not have the waist constriction. Ants may be black, brown, red or yellow.
They are social insects that live in colonies or nests usually located in the soil near the house foundation, under concrete slabs, in crawl spaces, in structural wood, in the yard or garden, in trees and in other protected places.
They have three castes, namely queens, males and workers. Ants, like many other hymenopterans, are social insects with duties divided among different types, or castes, of adult individuals.
They also can injure plants by tunneling around the roots, causing them to dry out, they also perform many useful functions in the environment, such as feeding on other pests Ants can bite with their pincer like jaws, although most species rarely do.
They often enter buildings seeking food and water, warmth and shelter, or a refuge from dry, hot weather or flooded conditions. They may also invade kitchens, bathrooms, offices, or bedrooms. Ants may be attracted up into trees or shrubs by ripening or rotten sweet fruit or floral nectar. Ants have two stomachs one for them and one to feed others.
Ants exhibit complex behavior; some build intricate nests, some are fierce warriors, some collect and store seeds, some capture slaves, and some farm fungi. Ants can be found almost everywhere, except probably at the polar caps, but you never know there may be a species of Eskimo Ant.
Visit our site to learn more about insect control and find out more about ant repellant.
The Many Uses of Borax
You can find Borax in the laundry aisle of just about any retail store. Borax, also known as sodium borate, is packaged by the 20 Mule Team Company as a laundry booster but it has many other uses as well. Borax can be used as a drain cleaner, toilet cleaner, weed and ant repellent and to sanitize your garbage disposal. Additionally, you can sprinkle Borax anywhere you want to get rid of odors and keep them away. Following are some simple recipes for the many uses of Borax.
Laundry Booster
As stated earlier the most common use for Borax is as a laundry booster to make clothes come out cleaner and to get rid of stains and odors that normal laundry detergents leave behind. All you need to do is add a ½ cup to your washing machine at the beginning of the wash cycle. For large loads use 3/4 cup instead.
Drain Cleaner
Toilet Cleaner
Garbage Pail Sanitizer
A simple way to keep those nasty garbage pails clean and odor-free is with Borax. Start by cleaning the whole pain inside and out with a cup of Borax per gallon of hot water. Use the hottest water you can stand. Rinse with cold water and let dry. Once the pail is dry, sprinkle a small amount of Borax on the bottom of the garbage pail before putting in a new garbage bag. Do this each time you replace the bag to keep germs and odors away. Since Borax has deodorizing and disinfecting properties as well as being an effective cleanser, it makes a perfect toilet bowl cleaner. Just sprinkle a decent amount of Borax directly into the bowl, let it work its magic for about 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub with a toilet brush until the bowl is clean. Flush to rinse. Is your drain clogged? Or worse, there's a stinky smell wafting from your pipes? Borax will unclog your drain and leave it smelling nice and fresh. Just pour 1 cup of dry Borax down your drain, let it sit for 15 minutes and follow with 4 cups of boiling water. Repeat every month or as the drain gets clogged.
Weed And Ant Repellent
Borax can also be used to keep away weeds and ants. To kill existing weeds and prevent future weeds from growing, sprinkle borax powder into any cracks on your property where weeds are a problem. Avoid getting Borax on plant you want to keep as it is fatal to them as well. To get rid of pests like ants from your home, apply Borax powder around the foundation of your home. Ants will avoid the Borax and your home but you will have to repeat this procedure roughly twice a year to ensure continued protection.
There are many more uses for Borax than the ones listed here. You can find plenty of uses online and in magazines specializing in green cleaning. And while Borax is safer and less toxic than bleach it is still important to remember than some people have skin sensitivity to Borax and gloves should be worn while using. Also keep the area well ventilated to avoid any respiratory problems.
