When The Ants Go Marching: Easy Tips For Keeping An Ant Problem Under Control

Right at this moment somewhere in the United States, ants are marching from a homeowner’s backyard to the front door, looking for a hospitable place to live. When food and water are of limited supply or when the weather gets rough, ants will come looking for new places to call home. So, how do you keep them out?

Ants are social creatures that live together in communities known as colonies. You’ll often find them gathered near the foundation of a home, under concrete slabs or in other protected areas. The only way to really eliminate the problem is to kill the entire colony. Below are some additional tips from Combat®.

Keeping the Ants Out

-- Many ants enter the home via tiny gaps between the wall and utility lines, around windows, and other little holes and cracks around the home. A little caulk around these areas will make a big difference.

-- Keep vegetation about one foot away from the home, and avoid placing mulch close to the structure. Ants climb bushes and trees and will make their way from the outside into your home. Mulch is an attractive nesting spot for ants.

-- Fix water leaks, and insulate cold pipes and appliances on which condensation develops. The most important thing in an ant’s life is water and they will readily enter your home to get it.

-- Don’t over water houseplants. If the tray at the bottom of the plant fills up, empty it out.

-- Leave pet food out only at feeding time, and store the food in airtight containers.

Prevention steps are often very effective, but in the event that ants are still entering the home, there are steps that can be taken to eliminate the problem. Sprays are temporarily effective, but getting to the root of the problem requires a long-term solution.

For best results, place Combat® baits or gels in areas where you see or have seen ants. The ants will take the bait and carry it back to the colony and pass it on to other ants, thereby killing the brood, the queen, and the entire colony. There will be noticeably fewer ants in days. All Combat products are guaranteed to work or your money back.

Cool Facts
• Without a queen ant, the colony cannot survive.
• The queen orders directives by emitting odors that tell the ants what to do.
• Ants rely on scent for almost all of their communications.
• An ant can lift 20 times its own body weight, and ants work in teams to lift heavy items.
• The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days; however, a queen will live for several years.
• An ant has two stomachs—one for itself and one to store food to take back to the colony
• There are more than 12,000 species of ants.
• An ant colony contains only female ants.
• The males die shortly after reproduction.
• During the winter, ants can slow their metabolism to survive without eating for months.
• Keep children and pets away from fire ant nests. Fire ants are aggressive can cause serious injury.
• Carpenter ant colonies usually have multiple nests. The main nest is usually located outdoors, even though they’re known for burrowing in structures. They don’t feed on wood, but excavate it to make a nesting site.
• Carpenter ants are nocturnal; they only feed at night.

News Release: Suffering from asthma?

Combat asked Dr. Gretchen Phillips, a medical show radio host based in Minneapolis, to identify a few easy first-steps for people who think they might have or are currently suffering from asthma:

• Consult your physician.
• Avoid irritants, including pet dander, mold spores and cockroaches.
• If allergic to pets, make sure they are kept from bedrooms.
• Clean home regularly.
• Be sure to clean air vents.
• Vacuum two to three times a week.
• Reduce humidity, which helps prevent growth of mold spores.
• Avoid cold air.

Dr. Phillips is a family physician at Fairview Hospitals in Minnesota. Call for an interview.

News Release: Cockroaches Worsen Asthma Symptoms

A PDF of this file is available.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — May has been named national Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and Combat® brand pest control is doing its part to help spread the message. Although it might seem like an unlikely connection, studies show that there is a definite link between the cockroach allergen and the exacerbation and even causation of asthma.

“During the past few years, research has shown that cockroach allergens play a big part in the daily lives of asthma sufferers all over the country,” said Dr. Gretchen Phillips, an MD with Fairview Hospitals, and a medical show radio host based in Minneapolis.

The link between cockroaches and asthma has been proven in scientific research dating back to the 1970s. Between 78 and 98 percent of urban homes have cockroaches, and 23 to 60 percent of urban residents are allergic to the cockroach allergen, according to the AAFA. The cockroach allergen is so pervasive in homes around the country, most doctors require patients with persistent asthma to be tested for cockroach allergies, in addition to other environmental factors, such as dust mites, mold and pets.

In the United States alone, more than 23 million people suffer from the chronic respiratory disease, including 6.5 million children.

Around 63 percent of all U.S. households have a detectable level of the cockroach allergen in the home, according to a 2005 study by The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

“Asthma kills. Even in 2008, people die from asthma,” Phillips said. “I always tell my patients that it is easier to prevent problems than to recover from them.”

Using Combat baits and roach-killing gels will help to kill the entire cockroach nest and ultimately improve the air quality. In addition to eliminating the problem, there are a few additional steps to help prevent cockroach infestations:

• Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers, which are perfect nesting areas for cockroaches.


• Keep food in tightly sealed plastic or glass containers, do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, vacuum regularly and don’t leave out pet food and water.


• Keep the inside of your home clean and do not leave out food or crumbs, which are attractive to ants and roaches.


• Seal the cracks and crevices in the walls of your home (including around water pipes and electrical outlets).

Combat was recently featured by the Healthy House Institute, an online resource that provides consumers with information to make their homes healthier. The HHI does not endorse specific products. Visit http://www.healthyhouseinstitute.com/ for more information.

To learn more about pest prevention and control strategies, visit http://www.combatbugs.com/. Combat® products retail from $2.49 to $14.99 and are available at most major retailers.

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas - Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies - and ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies. In fiscal 2006, Henkel generated sales of 12.740 billion euros and operating profit of 1,298 million euros. Our 52,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel. For more information, visit henkelna.com.

The Combat Cockroach Fact Sheet: Everything You'd Ever Need to Know

A PDF of this file is available.

Cool facts

• Cockroaches are the oldest insects and have been living with people since the cavemen.


• Cockroaches have been on earth for 350 million years and have changed little in appearance since that time.


• More than 3,500 species of cockroaches have been identified worldwide. Scientists speculate there may be 5,000 that have yet to be discovered.


• There are about 70 species of cockroaches in North America. Of these, only about 10 are common pests.


• Cockroaches will eat just about anything: human food, paper, fabric, leather, hair, plants, dead animals. They need little food to survive and reproduce.


• Cockroaches will live inside electronic equipment and can disrupt or short-circuit them or even cause electrical fires by chewing through wiring.

Two roaches to look out for in your area....

Small (German cockroach)

• About a half-inch long on average.
• Can't survive outside, they have to live inside.
• If seen in the house, homeowner should be alarmed because the probability of infestation is high.
• Adult lifespan is about four to five months.

Large (American cockroach)

• About 1.5 to 2 inches long.
• Can survive inside and outside.
• Normally when found inside, they have wandered in from outside.
• If seen, probably not a problem in the house and may just be an anomaly.
• Adult lifespan is about a year.
  

The Cockroach-to-Asthma Connection

• Around 63 percent of all U.S. households have a detectable level of the cockroach allergen in the home. (Source: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
• The cockroach allergen has the highest rate of occurrence in apartment buildings.
• Allergens come from saliva, fecal material, secretions, cast skins and dead cockroaches. (Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)
• The National Institutes of Health found that the cockroach allergen worsens asthma symptoms more than dust mites or even pet allergens.

Preventing Cockroach Infestation

• Eliminate clutter, such as stacks of clothes or newspapers.
• Keep food in tightly sealed containers.
• Keep inside of home clean and do not leave out food or crumbs.
• Seal cracks and crevices in walls of home.
• Check items such as shipping boxes, school bags, grocery bags before bringing them indoors.
• Avoid using thick mulch within at least one foot of home. Mulch retains moisture and creates attractive habitat for roaches.
• Reduce amount of water available by repairing water leaks and not over-watering plants.
• Use baits and gels.
  

How do cockroaches get inside a home?

• Cockroaches can slip in through cracks in your dwelling.
• If your neighbors have roaches then your general space is at risk. Cockroaches commonly infest adjacent apartments.
• Shopping bags, shipping boxes, or anything that has been transported from one location to another can potentially bring roaches into your home.
  

Can you handle an infestation yourself?

• Probably! Many infestations can be controlled using baits like Combat.
  Place baits around house, specifically where you see cockroaches and give the process two weeks.
• Even though you may be desperate, DON'T mix sprays and baits. The sprays will repel or kill cockroaches on the spot. The key to baits is that infected cockroaches take the poison back to the nest and kill the group.
• If you are battling a large infestation, you can use a vacuum to remove many of the cockroaches you see. Be sure to use a vacuum with a bag and immediately seal and dispose of the bag in the outdoor trash after vacuuming.
• If after two weeks there are no positive results, call an exterminator.

What's the difference between bait and spray products?

Baits (attractant)

• Provides long-term control for your roach problems by targeting the nest.
• Only offers short-term results and is limited to the pests you see.
• You don't have to see the roaches to kill them, and the bait can be placed in multiple locations simultaneously.

Sprays (repellant)

• You need to come face-to-face with the pest to kill it.
• Simple to use and no mess
• After use, you must extensively clean the area where the pesticide was sprayed and dispose of the dead pests.

Where to place your baits

• Baits must be placed where cockroaches are likely to be found.
• In the kitchen and bathrooms, near dark, damp places (cockroaches need water to survive), under the sink, inside cabinets, under the refrigerator, behind the garbage can.
• Cockroaches tend to walk along the walls and cabinets, rather than in the middle of open rooms. Place bait stations so that at least one edge is in contact with a vertical surface and you'll increase the chance that cockroaches will find it.
• For baits to be most effective, all other food sources should be eliminated. Don't leave any food lying around and clean the house thoroughly.

Story Ideas: 1/31/08

• Creating healthy indoor quality: Why this should be as important as cleaning the house
• Preparing for spring and summer pest infestations before they start
• Asthma and cockroaches: The dangerous link
• Identifying and treating childhood asthma

Combat Publicity Photography

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Are sick schools, poor results linked?

A letter-writer to The Boston Globe suggests unhealthy indoor air quality in public schools might contribute to lack-luster results.