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Does Neem Oil Kill Ants?

Does Neem Oil Kill Ants?

Neem oil is one of the most commonly used organic/natural pesticides. But will neem oil kill ants?

Even though ants may have some benefits for your garden, sometimes they can be a nuisance, hence the need to eliminate or deter them from camping on your plant.

So, does Neem oil kill ants?

Neem oil kills ants if you spray it directly on them. Neem oil also effectively kills aphids and other pests. And since ants rely on aphids for food, killing them will also reduce the population of ants in your garden.

Please keep reading to find out the best ways to use Neem oil on ants.

Does neem oil kill ants

What Does Neem Oil Do to Ants?

Neem oil is toxic to ants, especially when sprayed directly on the ants. When ingested, it disrupts the insect’s hormonal system. This makes it difficult for the ants to feed, lay eggs, or even grow.

How to Know if You Have an Ant Infestation in Your Garden

Before discussing how to use Neem oil on ants, below are some ways to know you have an ant infestation.

Several Aphids on a Plant

Ants and aphids rely on each other to survive. Aphids, which are one of the most common bad garden bugs excrete honeydew, a sugary substance that’s food for ants.

Ants, on the other hand, protect aphids from predators. They will carry aphids to your plant so that they can farm the honeydew.

So a large infestation of aphids means that ants are living close by. And in most cases, you’ll find several ants around the affected plant.

Rogue Ants

If you see one, or a few ants on your plants or in the garden, they are most likely scouting for food.

Once they establish a source, they will leave a visible scented trail, and soon you’ll have several ants flocking towards the source of food.

Nest Openings

These are often small holes that are entrances to their nests. If there are aphid-infested plants, the ants are probably living nearby.

They are quite good at hiding their nests, though, so you need to be very observant.

How Do You Use Neem Oil for Ants Control?

Below is a simple process of how to effectively eliminate ants with Neem oil.

What you’ll need:

Mixing:

For every gallon of water, add 4 teaspoons of Neem oil and 2 teaspoons of dishwashing soap.

Mix thoroughly and spray only on the affected areas. That is areas with aphids or along the ant trails. Spraying the whole plant isn’t economical, and you may end up spraying other beneficial insects.

Unfortunately, neem oil, and other insecticides, will only kill the aphids that are already in your garden, but that doesn’t stop more from coming. So you have to spray repeatedly, at least after every 7 to 10 days.

Video – Does Neem Oil Kill Ants?

Watch the video below to see how neem oil works against ants.

Conclusion

Neem oil is effective against ants. It is one of the best natural ways to get rid of ants in your garden. It’s not toxic to your plants or other beneficial insects, and it even helps deal with other pests and fungi.

Does neem oil get rid of ants

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