Grits, which are simply ground corn or hominy, are often cited in folklore as a non-toxic method for eliminating ant infestations. This persistent belief suggests that spreading the dry grains will cause a lethal reaction within the insects. Because many people seek simple, non-chemical solutions to pest problems, this idea remains popular. This article investigates the claim that grits can act as an ant killer and presents scientifically sound alternatives for managing ant populations.
The Common Belief: Grits and Internal Expansion
The foundational theory behind using grits for ant control centers on a mechanism of internal rupture. Proponents suggest worker ants consume the dry, uncooked grits and carry them back to the nest. Once inside the colony, the ants supposedly drink water, causing the corn product to swell dramatically. This expansion within the ant’s digestive system is then believed to cause a fatal rupture or bloating.
This theory relies on the concept that the ant’s body cannot accommodate the sudden increase in volume caused by the hydrating grains. The idea of a simple, non-toxic food item leading to the demise of an entire colony has made the myth highly appealing to homeowners. However, this hypothesized process overlooks fundamental aspects of ant biology. The corn grit is a solid particle, and the ant’s internal anatomy is not designed to process such substances in the manner required for this theory to work.
Ant Physiology and the Failure of the Myth
The primary reason the grit-expansion theory fails is due to the adult ant’s inability to ingest solid food particles into its midgut, the section where digestion occurs. Adult worker ants possess a filtering structure called the proventriculus, which acts as a sieve between the crop (social stomach) and the midgut. This structure effectively prevents large, solid particles like ground corn from passing into the digestive tract.
Ants primarily consume liquids, which they can easily share with the colony through a process called trophallaxis. While worker ants collect solid food, they are not consuming it themselves; instead, they carry it back to the nest for the larvae. Larvae are the only colony members that can process solid food, utilizing digestive enzymes to break down the material into a liquid slurry before feeding it back to the adult workers and the queen.
Therefore, when an ant encounters dry grits, it may carry the particles, but the solid material cannot enter the adult ant’s digestive system to cause expansion and rupture. The grits are either discarded, used as a building material, or given to the larvae, which are adapted to process the solids without suffering an internal rupture. Spreading grits simply provides a non-lethal food source or building material for the colony.
Proven Methods for Ant Management
Since dry grits are ineffective, homeowners should use scientifically sound methods that target ant biology for control. The most effective approach involves slow-acting liquid sugar baits, which capitalize on the ant’s reliance on liquid food and trophallaxis. These baits contain a sweet liquid laced with a slow-acting poison that worker ants readily ingest and share with the entire colony, including the queen and larvae.
The delayed action of the poison ensures the bait is widely distributed throughout the nest before any individual ant dies, leading to colony collapse. For physical control, food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is an effective alternative. This fine powder, made from the fossilized remains of diatoms, works by absorbing the waxy outer layer of the ant’s exoskeleton upon contact.
This absorption causes the ant to dehydrate and die, acting as a physical desiccant rather than a chemical poison. Using DE involves sprinkling a thin layer in areas where ants travel. Long-term management also requires sealing entry points, such as cracks and crevices, and removing accessible food and water sources to reduce attraction for foraging ants.