Identifying the Entry Point
An ant’s scent trail inside a home usually leads from a crack or gap in a wall or floor, and ants are often seen near baseboards along the floor. Other entry points might be unsealed holes to the exterior, including plumbing entry points. Usually, the trail continues in a fairly straight line toward a food source, such as an area of crumbs or a sticky spill. It might also be a pantry, food cabinet, or even a small appliance with food residue. Outdoor scent trails can lead to the same types of items or even dead bugs.
Finding the Ant Scent Trail
An ant scent trail is invisible to humans. There is no way to see the trail that has been left unless the ants themselves are present and following the trail. The easiest way to see a scent trail is to watch the ants traveling in a line. Very rarely will a few ants break off from the line to scout new food sources. Early on during an invasion, the unbroken line to the food will mark the pathway of the scent trail. By following it, you should be able to find the food sources the ants are seeking and identify where the ants are coming from.
What to Do When You Find the Trail
Once you’ve found the ant scent trail, use it to your advantage by setting out ant bait traps along the trail. The worker ants follow the trail to the traps, which contain a food source and ant poison. They bring the poisonous food back to the colony where it gradually kills the colony. After the traps have done their job, remove the trail with your preferred cleaner:
Vinegar: Fill a spray bottle with undiluted vinegar, and spray along the ant trail. Let the vinegar dry.
Bleach: Dilute liquid bleach with water, following the manufacturer’s proportions a general cleaning solution. Clean the trail area with a sponge or brush, and rinse as needed. Baking soda: Mix baking soda with water to create a scrubbing paste. Scrub the site around the ant trail, then rinse or wipe up the baking soda. You can also sprinkle dry baking soda into cracks an crevices to help erase the scent trail.
If desired, you can also apply a natural repellant to the area after cleaning. One option is to use peppermint essential oil (diluted with water in a spray bottle) and spray the area where you removed the trail. You can also sprinkle ground cinnamon or chili powder over the area.
