Does Cinnamon Kill Ants? The Truth Behind This Natural Ant Repellent as a Home Solution
Introduction
The world of ants in many homes is considered quite frustrating, and a home remedy that will keep those red invaders away may be the result of endless search for some owners. Amongst the various remedies that are becoming popular, one has gained attention: cinnamon. Does cinnamon kill ants or merely repel them? In this article, we will discuss the effectiveness of cinnamon against ants and the way it works along with its feasibility for long-term pest control.
1. Why Is Cinnamon Used to Keep Ants Away?
This is on account of the fact that cinnamon possesses a very potent smell, which many people believe would interfere with the way an ant would follow the pheromone trails. These creatures relay information and map directions on the basis of chemical trails; therefore, the overpowering aroma of cinnamon can mask these signals, and ants get lost.
No toxicity to humans and pets is also the attractive option in one of the spices, cinnamon. Such characteristics make it safe over chemical pesticides to be used in this regard. It makes the spice an attractive option for those who want to eliminate chemicals in their home atmosphere. But does it kill the ants or repel? Effective enough to exterminate them?
2. Ant Response to Cinnamon
The main reason why cinnamon is effective in controlling ants is because of its active component, cinnamaldehyde, which makes the spice so pungent and aromatic. Whenever ants are exposed to cinnamon, they get repelled by the strong smell. The fine ground particles of cinnamon may also irritate the exoskeletons of the ants, such that they find it uncomfortable to pass through areas where this spice has been sprinkled.
This should be noted, though: while cinnamon does not kill ants, it repels them. The smell interferes with their ability to communicate, making them want to stay away from areas containing cinnamon. Inhibiting an ant from entering a specific space might be an effect of cinnamon; however, it won’t kill them directly. A large amount of cinnamon powder into contact with ants can asphyxiate them, although this is not always the case and certainly not a good way to kill a whole colony of ants.
3. Does Cinnamon Kill Ants?
In a nutshell: cinnamon may indeed kill ants, but not as traditional insecticides. A chemical pesticide is an insecticide that would poison and kill insects on the spot. Cinnamon is a bit different because it acts in a different manner or as a repellent for ants-forcing them away from areas it is applied to rather than killing them.
This will choke the spiracles of the ants-small holes in their exoskeleton through which they breathe, potentially suffocating the ant. The process isn’t always effective, especially for large colonies. Most ants will find a way around the cinnamon rather than to come into direct contact with it.
4. How to Employ Cinnamon for Ant Control
Though cinnamon does not definitely kill ants, it surely repels them if used correctly. Here is how you can put this spice to good use by clearing your home of ants:
Sprinkle Ground Cinnamon: This is probably the simplest method. Sprinkle ground cinnamon around any entry point through which ants are entering your home. Be sure to target the doorways, windowsills, and walls with cracks. Once the scent barrier is in place, the ants don’t like to cross it.
Make a spray by combining cinnamon essential oil with water if you prefer a liquid solution. Mix a cup of water with ten to fifteen drops of cinnamon oil, then mist the area where ants have been observed. This is especially helpful if one needs to spray a larger area, such as baseboards or countertops.
Cinnamon Barrier: For areas you want to protect, like food storage or kitchen counter tops, draw a line of ground cinnamon around the area. The ants won’t cross over the line because of the strong smell.
Cinnamon Sticks: For places where you know ants are present, you can hang cinnamon sticks to effectively control them on a preventive scale. Compared to the strength of ground cinnamon or essential oil, cinnamon sticks are not as potent, but they are still an effective antidote for smaller-scale infestations.
5. How Effective is Cinnamon Compared to Other Natural Ant Repellents?
While cinnamon is a wonderful ant repellent, it is not the only one in natural remedy books people use to fight ants. Here is the comparison of cinnamon with other common natural repellents of ants:
Vinegar: This happens to be another very commonly used home remedy for ants, and its result happens through similar means as cinnamon-by breaking the pheromone trails. Vinegar, however, evaporates very rapidly which results in their effect wearing off a lot sooner than cinnamon. It is best used for immediate relief over a short period.
Diatomaceous Earth: This is the powder composed by fossilized diatoms. Simply put, these fossilized diatoms literally damage the ant’s exoskeleton then dehydrate and kill them. While Diatomaceous earth happens to be more lethal to ants than cinnamon, if you plan to kill the ants instead of just repelling them, then this would be the better option.
Peppermint Oil: Similar to cinnamon oil, peppermint oil is a very strong essential oil with a strong smell, so much so that it could be considered ant navigation disruptors. Being an excellent repellent oil, peppermint oil can be used alone or mixed with cinnamon for a more effective ant control strategy.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice also disrupts the scent trails where ants should be marching; however, it dries out more quickly than vinegar. While at first glance, lemon juice does the job, it doesn’t last as long as cinnamon does.
6. Drawbacks of Using Cinnamon to Rid Ants
While cinnamon is often touted as one of the most universally applied natural remedies, it does have its drawbacks:
This is a temporary measure because the activity of cinnamon is also short-term because it goes obsolete with time due to the fading of its smell. Ground cinnamon or cinnamon oil will have to be replenished from time to time so that the repellent activity will be sustained.
It Does Not Target the Colony: Cinnamon is effective at keeping ants away from a specific area, but does not target the root: the colony. Ant colonies can hold thousands of individual ants, and unless the queen is addressed, the colony will simply continue to send out worker ants to scavenge for food.
Best Use for Small Infestations: Cinnamon should be used when there are minimal ants or as a preventative measure. If you have several colonies or massive infestation, you might need to complement it with professional services from a pest control service or a stronger home remedy.
7. When to Call the Professionals
In case you have a serious case of ant infestation that is too severe for cinnamon, then you might need to hire professional pest control services. Natural remedies such as cinnamon, vinegar, or essential oils can only offer temporary relief; they are rarely effective in treating aggressive infestations or the carpenter ant or fire ant species. An exterminator can target an entire colony while ensuring that the solution is long-lasting.
Conclusion
With its intense scent and cinnamaldehyde content, cinnamon is one of the most known natural repellents that can keep ants away. While it can effectively keep the entrance of ants in a particular area, cinnamon does not definitely kill ants, especially when infestation is larger. It is best used with a general approach in the control of ants, supplemented by other natural repellents or in conjunction with commercialized means.
If you want a non-toxic way of deterring ants, then, well, cinnamon is a safe, organic substance that can be helpful in managing small ant infestations. The colony usually is bigger than that, so you would have to eliminate the entire colony because cinnamon alone will not eradicate all the ants from your home.